STOP PRESS NEWS

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21369, 13 March 1941, Page 6

STOP PRESS NEWS

TERRIBLE slaughter MUSSOLINI IN ALBANIA LONDON. March 12 With the Athens radio statement that Mussolini has been in Albania for the last five days, supervising operations, comes a Greek official declaration that Italian counter-attacks yesterday developed into a general offensive on a 12-mile front, chiefly in the central sector. The Greek did not give an inch of ground and inflicted frightful casualties on the Italians. Greek artillery and machine-gun fire was incessant against the oncoming waves. Blackshirt youths have been thrown into the fighting without proper training and mercilessly mown down. These youths showed their lac!; of training by running into machine-gun crossfire, where they were decimated. The bodies covered a hollow 60 feet deep and 500 yards wide. A Gredk major declared that the butchery of untrained youngsters was revolting. The total prisoners in the last few days are estimated at 3500. Italian prisoners declare that Italy's losses in the Italo-Greek war are 130,000. AUSTRALIANS LIBELLED STATEMENTS BY JAPAN CANBERRA. March 13 Diplomatic action is being taken by the Commonwealth Government to deal with the alleged vilification of the Australian Imperial Force in Malaya by Japanese radio announcers. Propaganda statements describing the Australians as raw colonials, sons of convicts and undisciplined, have been intercepted in Malaya. Mr Fadden said question would be raised with the new Japanese Minister, Mr Kawai, next week. WELLINGTON RACES Thompson Handicap: A—A Augment, 7.5 (S. Waddell), 1| 9 — l ß Dona, 8.0 (A. C. Messervy), 2; Don’t Forget, 7.10 (L. J. Ellis) 3. Also started-. Sir Crusoe, 9.2; Amigo, 9.0; Kathbella, 8.7; Belle Cane, 8.8; Serenata, 8.6; Siglow, 8.1: Lambourn, 7.12; The Ring, 7.6; White Rajah, 7.3; King’s Toast, 7.0. Two and a-half lengths; half length. Time, 1.442. Tmakori Handicap: I—l Circular Note (Broughton), 1; 4—4 SurveyorGeneral (Mudford), 2: 2—2 Rakanui (L. J. Ellis), 3; scr Tavoy, Wild Fox, Marlene.