MAJOR ATTACK

Evening Star, Issue 23723, 2 November 1940, Page 11

MAJOR ATTACK

LAUNCHED BY ITALIANS SALONIKA THE ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE IREEKS DOING UTMOST TO CHECK ADVANCE LONDON, November 1. (Received November 2, at noon.) It is reported from Belgrade that ' the Italians to-day launched a major attack through the ancient pass from Korea to Fiorina, with a view to securing possession of the network of roads, thus facilitating the ultimate objective, Salonika. The Italians are supported by heavy mountain artillery and planes. The thunder of the guns is described as incessant. The Greeks are operating from high strategic positions pointblank against the mountain road, and are doing their utmost to check the advance. It is believed that the Italians will pay a high price if they succeed in the push through to Fiorina. It is reported without confirmation from Greek sources that British bombers, accompanied by a few Greek planes and operating from a Greek base, bombed Italian and Albanian ports. An Italian report says the Italians are 17 miles from Janina. The Stefani Agency says the Italians have advanced 34 miles from the Albanian border and captured the subprefecture of Seilati, containing 79 villages and 35,000 inhabitants. ITALIAN AGGRESSION CONDEMNED “COWARDLY AND DESPICABLE ACT" (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 31. After a meeting to-day of the National Council of Labour, which was attended by Mr C. R. Attlee, the following statement was issued:—“The National Council of Labour expresses its detestation of the cowardly and despicable act of wanton aggression committed by Mussolini against the Greek nation. This aggression, like similar crimes committed by the Axis Powers, was perpetrated despite the most cate-

gorical pledges given by the Fascist Government that Italy had no warlike intention against Greece. The council, on behalf of British trades union labour and co-operative movements, sends its greetings to the people of Greece and Albania, and assures them that British workers are with them in their gallant resistance to Nazi and Fascist tyranny, and are confident of final victory for our common cause.”