PART ASSIGNED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 November 1943, Page 4

PART ASSIGNED

TO LIBERATED ALBANIA IN FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS IN MEDITERRANEAN MR CHURCHILL’S EXPRESS!^? 9 OF SYMPATHY (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10 a.m.) RUGBY, November 4. “Britain expects the thousands of Albanian guerillas now fighting the Germans to play their part in Mediterranean developments,” Mr Churchill declared in the House of Commons. “We wish to see Albania freed from the Axis yoke and restored to independence,” he added. “Her frontiers will of course be considered in the peace settlement. Thousands of Albanian guerillas are now fighting in the mountains for the freedom and independence of their country. From the experience of other occupied countries they have learned that the so-called independence offered by Germany is a cruel fraud. Some weeks ago, the Fascist occupation, which for over four years they have refused to accept, was replaced by German oppression. The Germans are employing all the usual methods by which they seek to subdue a warlike people. Already they have bombed Albanian villages and killed Albanian women and children, but the Albanian guerillas continue to harass the enemy and to attack his communications. British liaison officers with them have paid high tribute to their fine fighting qualities. We look to them to play their part, in accordance with their ancient warlike traditions, in future developments in the Mediterranean area.”