GREECE’S PERIL

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21206, 31 August 1940, Page 8

GREECE’S PERIL

THE ITALIAN MENACE TROOP CONCENTRATIONS RELATIONS WITH BRITAIN (Official Wireless) (Received August 31, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, August 30 “While there is no evidence that Mussolini intends to make war on Greece,” says the Times, “there is much evidence that he is putting himself in a state of preparedness to do so at any moment. More and more Italian troops are being concentrated opposite the Greek frontier in disregard of the demilitarised zone there. Italian aeroplanes have been seen over Epirus. “Greek owners have received warnings that even vessels provided with Italian visas will be liable to be detained for sailing under the British navicert system. Other owners who leased their vessels on long-term charters to the British Government have been advised to break their contracts. The northern partner in the Axis has been supporting this attitude by denouncing on the wireless the ‘so-called’ neutrals who maintain maritime relations with Britain. Italian propagandists are cooking up charges against the Greek authorities on the Greek frontier.

“Throughout the whole period of blackmailing to which Greece has been subjected by the Italian leaders and publicists her Government has gone out of its way to avoid every possible cause of provocation, but it has become unneutral in the eyes of the Axis countries for Greece to have even normal relations with Britain. Greece is small, so Greece is bullied by them. Italy’s Purpose “One of Italy’s obvious purposes is to obtain the use of Greek harbours and maritime facilities. “Mussolini knows that an open act of war would justify this country, by virtue of the guarantee given to Greece last year, in occupying Greek harhours immediately. An open act, therefore, is avoided and a policy of menace by delaying and blackmail pursued instead. “Greece, however, has good friends and a united country is behind its Prime Minister, as it has never been united since the days of the Balkan wars. General Metaxas quietly makes the necessary preparations to resist aggression from any quarter.”

FIGHTING IN AFRICA SUCCESS OF BRITISH ATTACK AGAINST ITALIANS ENEMY PLANE DESTROYED (Official Wireless) (Received August 31, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, August 30 A Cairo communique states: In the western desert on August 29 Mersa-Matruh was raided twice by the enemy air force, causing a few casualties. One enemy aircraft is reported to have been destroyed by anti-aircraft fire. Yesterday in the Gallabat area of the Sudan our troops fought successfully an action against the enemy who were preparing to defend the area. Ten of the enemy were killed and about fifteen wounded. Our casualties were nil. Italians Claim Successes An Italian communique states: Italian formations accurately bombed the naval base of Micaba, on Malta. Enemy fighters which were already in the air when our formations arrived refused to engage in battle and tried to escape. The Italian fighters machine-gunned and damaged three enemy planes.

We bombed the barracks and railway station at Mersa-Matruh, several hundred bombs being dropped on these objectives with precision. The effects were plainly visible. We bombed troop concentrations at Arbro, Elphia and Garizza, in Kenya, also the airfield at Buna. One grounded enemy machine was destroyed and two others damaged. All the Italian planes participating in these engagements returned, although some were damaged. Native troops successfully raided in the direction of Buna, destroying one British armoured car and inflicting serious losses.

The enemy three times bombed Mogadishu, causing two deaths and injuries to six people. The material damage was insignificant.