POSITIONS MAINTAINED

Evening Star, Issue 23724, 4 November 1940, Page 7

POSITIONS MAINTAINED

Greek Troops in Albania Violent Artillery Duel On Two Fronts Four Italian Bombers Shot Down (British Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright EUGBY,' November 3. (Eeceived November 4, at 12.28 p.m.) According to agency messages received in London the Greek communique number seven, issued by headquarters regarding yesterday’s operations, states: On the Epirus and Western Macedonian fronts there was a violent artillery duel. The positions occupied by our troops in Albanian territory on the Fiorina sector, as announced in a previous communique, were maintained, in spite of violent resistance by enemy artillery and •viation units. Our planes successfully bombed the aerodromes at Lorytza and Argyrokastro, destroying some 'aeroplanes on the ground. A fuel depot was set on fire, and fires could also be seen in the aerodrome installations. Concentrations of enemy troops and batteries were bd*ibed with success by our aviation units. Four enemy bombers were shot down in air battles. Two of our aircraft have not returned to their base. The enemy air force continued its attacks on non-combatant populations. Patras, the neighbourhood of Corfu, Janina, and Canea, as well as other villages, large and small, were bombed. No military objective was attacked, but some houses were wrecked and there 'were some casualties, including deaths, among the civil population. A further Greek report says 200 civilians, many of whom were children, were killed when twenty Italian bombers raided Salonika. Athens reports that the Government has received £20,000,000 from London.