MILITARY AID

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

MILITARY AID

BRITISH TROOPS IN GREECE STATEMENT BY MINISTER STRONG AIR AND NAVAL SUPPORT PnM Association —By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, November 3. Britain's help to Greece has now taken definite shape. It was announced to-day by the First Lord • vf the Admiralty, Mr A. V, Alexander, that British troops had landed in Greece. Mr Alexander also said: “ The Navy is there and we are giving air support.” An Athens message states that British warships have arrived at Crete and the preparation of air and naval buM is being expedited. Greek naval bases have already been occupied by the Allies, and intensified aerial and naval action against the Dodecanese Islands is believed t« be imminent. Major-general, Gambier Parry, of the British Headquarters General Staff in the Near East,’has arrived in Greece. Ho conferred with the Greek High Command on the matter of planning a winter campaign. BRITISH EQUIPMENT. The Italian newspaper ‘II Messagero ’ says that Greek troops have been furnished with excellent British fighting equipment. A Moscow message states that the newspaper ‘ Trud ’ says that Italy’s attack on Greece did not surprise the British Navy, which immediately adopted measures necessary to tighten the blockade. Italy’s strategic position was much more serious than Germany’s, because she was cut off from communications. Italy was trying to re-establish contact with the outside world by a drive to Suez from Libya, but the dominance of the Royal Navy in the Mediterranean would prevent the completion of the plan., A Yugoslav agency message states that British bombers joined Greek bombers and fighters in a successful raid on Tirana, the Albanian capital. Direct hits were scored on the barracks and other military buildings. The same planes also bombed an important Albanian port. A GREEK SUCCESS. The Greeks are reported to have checked the Italian drive from Korea by capturing at bayonet point the strategically important summit, Mount Piasoderi, which dominates the only motorised route to Fiorina and from which Korea can be bomlbed. The right flank of the„Greek Army in the Fiorina sector has advanced about five miles

ITALIAN STATEMENT WAR TO PROCEED LONDON, November 2. It is authoritatively reported from Rome that Italy has no intention of entering into negotiations for the liquidation of the Greek conflict. The Greek rejection of the ultimatum set in motion the Italian military machine, which will proceed to deal with the situation. An Italian communique says: “ Odr air force bombed a military arsenal, ships at Salamis, and various military objectives, in addition to the Corinth Canal and the Corinth-Athens railway. Formations bombed and machinegunned troops landing at Crete, also damaging several ships in port, installations, and stores.” GERMAN TROOPS CONCENTRATING ON YUGOSLAVIAN FRONTIER LONDON. November 2. The ‘ Daily Mail’s ’ Salonika correspondent says that Germany continues to maintain an ostentatious neutrality, but is reportedly concentrating troops at three strategically important points on the Yugoslavian frontier. The first point of concentration is on the north-west border of what was formerly Austrian Carinthia. The frontier is reported to be closed while German manoeuvres are progressing. The second point is in the Rumanian area in the vicinity of Timisoara, and the third in the Orsova and Danube area facing Yugoslavia. The two last-named points provide a new defence problem for Yugoslavia, whose defence was earlier based on the assumption that the north-west and extreme south-east borders were most likely to be attacked. GREEKS FIGHTING WELL NO DESIRE FOR ARMISTICE (British Official Wireless.; RUGBY, November 2. " Dismissing as nonsense reports that the Greeks are desirous of an armistice, official circles in London state that the opinion is that the Greeks are fighting well and will continue to fight well.

inside Albanian territory along the main road. The Greeks further south in the Pindus area apparently retired soma 10 miles, but advanced again after receiving reinforcements and captured a ridge in the Pindus mountains. The enemy is bringing up various types of artillery jn the southern coastal section, and it seems obvious that he is preparing to attack. This is the most likely region for him to use tanks and other mechanised units, it is understood that about tiro divisions of the Italian troops arc concentrated in this area.