SHELLS PUMPED INTO VALONA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 304, 23 December 1940, Page 7

SHELLS PUMPED INTO VALONA.

NAVAL ACTION. Everything Within Range Wiped Out. United Press Association. —Copyright. (Reed. 12.30 p.m.) LOXDOK, Dec. 22. The Associated Press correspondent Avith the British Fleet during the bombardment of Valona states that the battleship's eommander, before the bombardment, posted a bulletin reading: "Our objective—to discomfort the Italians."

He adds that for 12 minutes the warships pumped shells into naval and military installations, wiping out everything withm range and vision. Only when tlte warships moved slowly southward did the Italian batteries lire star shells, vainly trying to light up the attacking forces.

Describing the Mediterranean Fleet's sweep into the Adriatic Sea, a special correspondent on board a flotilla-leader with the light units says: "With the snow clad mountains of Greece in ( the distance on our starboard eide,' we struck a tremendous storm, soon after which only the nearest ship was visible. We entered the Straits of Otranto under a watery moon, hanging low over the Albanian hills.

"All the ehips comprising the striking force were now 'clearly visible, eteaming north past blacked-uut Valona. All eyes were strained expectantly ahead ae we alonjr slowly for two hours, our guns prepared for instant action and the torpedo tubes manned. An occasional flickering light was visible on the distant Albanian shore, but Italy remained a patch of black. Shelling of Valona. "In the meantime, some miles astern, our battleships were taking up their positions for the shelling opposite Valona. We were too far distant to see or hear the bom'bardment, but when we were off Durazzo we received a laconic signal saying it had been carried out successfully, We saw on our return fires raging at Valona, while we were still CO miles from the port.

"We maintained action stations until we were clear of possible reprisals, but saw no signs of enemy ships during our four hours' cruise actually inside Italy's back yard. Thus Italy, who long ago forfeited her claim to control the Mediterranean, cannot even claim thfe Adriatic as her own,"

An Athens broadcast last night emphasised the importance of the entry of the British squadron into the Adriatic and .the bombardment of Valona, and added: "The fate pf the Italian army in Albania ifi now sealed. It must either thrpw itself into the sea or surrender unconditionally."

Greek destroyers have also steamed into the Adriatic Sea to a point opposite Valona without seeing any sign of Italian warships.

An Admiralty communique says machines of the Fleet Air Arm operating over the Dodecanese Inlands attacked Rhodes, Stampalia and Scarpanto and started fires. All the aeror planes returned safely.