DESPICABLE AND SHAMELESS

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

DESPICABLE AND SHAMELESS

ITALY’S ATTACK ON GREECE LONDON MINISTER'S INDICTMENT (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 1. (Received November 2, at 11.20 a.m.) Broadcasting in the 8.8.C.’s Greek service, the Greek Minister in London (Dr Simopoulos) referred to his country as the victim of the most despicable and premeditated aggression on Italy’s part. Pouring scorn on the pretexts Italy adopted to cover her action, he said the accusations against Greece constituted a shameless lie intended to cover a shameless act. He referred to the common criminal murdered on Albanian soil by Albanians, who, for certain reasons, was transformed by the Italians into a great patriot. Greece, said Dr Simopoulos, was the most peaceful nation in Europe, and he pointed to the Greek-Turkish friendship pact, which, he said, was the only luminous point in the road to peace during the post-war period in Europe. He spoke of the torpedoing of the Greek warship Helle, and revealed that' the Greek Naval Staff entrusted a special committee with the task of finding out the nationality of the unknown submarine which . made the attack. Special divers, he said, dragge’d from the bottom of the sea fragments of the torpedo. With these proofs in hand, and with the figures and inscriptions, full evidence had been furnished of the heroic deed of the Christian Italian Navy that treacherously sank a vessel adorned with flags and anchored at Tenos on the annual pilgrimage of the religious festival. This exploit was carried out with the despicable intention of incriminating Britain. Recalling His Majesty’s and Mr Churchill’s declarations that the Greek cause is the British cause, Dr Simopoulos said: “ Hellenism united throughout the world is fighting to-day for its freedom and independence. Greece has not survived thousands of years to become somebody’s serf now,” and he concluded: “We are proud our country finds itself in this struggle by the side of a great and heroic nation fighting for a common ideal, and, as the King of England said to our King: ‘ Your fight is our fight.’ ”

DIRECT HIT

CAMOUFLAGED ENEMY SHIP SUCCESSFUL ATTACK BY COASTAL COMMAND (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 1. (Received November 2, at 11.20 am..) Hudsons of the Coastal Command boat German camouflage during a reconnaissance of enemy waters in southern Norway .when they bombed a 3,000ton supply ship heavily laden with cargo. After a direct hit amidships on the camouflaged vessel white smoke appeared and part of the cargo was seen in the water. The reconnaissance was strongly resisted by the ground defences and fighter aircraft. One of the Hudsons which went to attack another ship is missing,- but the rest completed their task successfully. UNLOADING ACCIDENT DOCK WORKER AWARDED DAMAGES LONDON, November 1. (Received November 2. at 11.30 a.m.) The High Court awarded £I.OOO to a stevedore, claiming damages for negligence from the New Zealand Shipping Company. Cheese was being unloaded from the Remuera when a crate fell from a net and fractured the plaintiff’s spine.