R.A.F. IN ALBANIA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 113, 22 February 1941, Page 5

R.A.F. IN ALBANIA.

HIGHLY-SUCCESSFUL ACTIONS. SEVEN ITALIANS SHOT DOWN. (Received This Day, 11.35 a.m.) . LONDON, February 21. Tho highly successful actions fought by the Royal Air Force squadrons over Albania yesterday' are the feature of the Middle East communique from Royal Air Force headquarters. This states: “The Royal Air Force was again very active in Albania yesterday. 1 A particularly heavy raid was made on Berat, where barracks were badly damaged and a number of fires were started, followed by explosions. * At Tepelcm enemy stores and troops concentrations were successfully' attacked and much damage and confusion -’was caused. Thu British bombers were; escorted by fighters on these raids and in engagements with the enemy seven of their fighters were shot down without loss to the Royal Air Force. Other enemy aircraft were severely damaged. “In Italian East Africa continued support was given to British troops on various fronts. At Massawa a number of enemy' aircraft were damaged on the ground and* a large petrol dump was set on fire.. Enemy . aircraft raided Benghazi yesterday, but there were no casualties and only very slight damage. One enemy aircraft was shot down in flames by antiaircraft fire; all the crew being killed. One British fighter aircraft is missing, but the pilot is safe.” —British Official Wireless. Additional details of the successful actions by' the Royal Air Force., over Albania are given in a communique from British Headquarters in Greece. The raid on Berat, it is stated, was carried out by a large force of bombers escorted: by eight-gun Hurricanes. Enemy r fighters which met the formation were at once engaged by the Hurricanes. Four were quickly shot down and .the remainder were dispersed. Meanwhile, the bombers had pressed home tlneir attack, causing great damage and confusion in the town. QUESTION OF FUTURE STRATEGY CONFERENCE AT CAIRO. MR EDEN AND GENERAL DILL. LONDON, February 20. The Foreign Secretary (Mr R. A. Eden) and the Chief of the Imperial General Staff (General Sir John Dill) have arrived by air .in Egypt, r. It is felt there that the time is clearly ripe for a full review of the political military situation in the Middle East as an outcome of the brilliant victories’of the Army of the Nile. Tho War Cabinet has showfi the importance, it attaches to such a review by sending Mr Eden. and General Dill,and no doubt full consultations will take place with General Sir Archibald Wa'vell and other authorities. In Mr Eden the Cabinet will thus have one of its own members to report to them on affairs' in this great theatre of war. ■ This is Mr Eden’s third visit to Egypt since the beginning of the year. A year ago almost to the day, as Dominions Secretary, he greeted on their arrival the first of the Dominions’ contingents, which have sinco played such a striking part in the victorious Libyan campaign. In November, as War Secretary, he went out to discuss matters with General Wavell and personally to inspect operations in North and East Africa. Hq is therefore equipped with a special knowledge of the military and political questions involved which, is perhaps unrivalled among the younger statesmen. It is possible that he will find time to visit the great areas which w'ore so recently' in Italian occupation. The “Daily Telegraph,” commenting on the arrival of Mr R-. A. Eden and General Sir John Dill in Cairo, says: “Obviously General 'Wavell has at ‘his disposal forces which are free for operations elsewhere. Mr Eden may well wish to know what further steps he should take to reinforce Greek resistance in the Balkans.” » CLAIMS BY GERMANS. BOMBING OF BRITISH TROOPS. (Received This Day, 9.15 a.m.) ' LONDON, February 21. A German communique claims that British bombers in the Mediterranean successfully attacked concentrations of British troops in Libya.