ITALIAN MORALE

Evening Star, Issue 23818, 24 February 1941, Page 7

ITALIAN MORALE

DETERIORATING IN ALBANIA CONFIRMED BY PRISONERS LOSSES KNOWN TO BE HEAVY Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright ATHENS, February 23. (Received February 24, at 8 a.m.) A communique states that there is limited patrol and artillery activity. Some prisoners were taken. The Spokesman explained that heavy rain had confined the Greeks to consolidating their recent gains. Thera had been no Italian counter-attacks. Many of the Italians were foodless,' owing to British and Greek bombing. An air raid on Preveza destroyed the Archaeological Museum and other buildings. Three civilians were wounded. Prisoners confirm the extreme de« terioration of Italian morale and conditions, also that their losses are very heavy. The Pusteria division lost % third of its effectives, the Tuscany Wolves division two-thirds, and the Seina division has been practically wiped out. In a desperate effort to ward off persistent blows from the British and Greek air forces the Italians are putting large formations of fighters into Albania, but are suffering heavy losses. BRITISH FIGHTER PATROLS THREE ENEMY AIRCRAFT SHUT DOWN (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, February 23. (Received February 24, at 11.30 a.m.)' An R.A-F. Middle East communique states: Further successful raids by R.A.F. bombers did considerable damage to enemy storage dumps, motor transport and columns in the Buzi area, near Tepelini yesterday. In the Preveza area one of the British fighter patrols shot down three enemy aircraft—a three-engined seaplane, which crashed into the sea, and two threeengined bombers. DEADLOCK DENIED THAI-INDO-CHIHA PEACE CONFERENCE “ OUR GREAT FRIEND JAPAN " BANGKOK, February 22. According to a message from Bangkok the Government issued a communique denying that the Tokio peace conference had reached a deadlock. -It stated: “ We hope that mediation will soon come to a peaceful solution, showring that our great friend, Japan, has maintained justice in the best possible way.” The French delegation at the Tokio conference presented a protest to Mr Matsuoka against the presence of the Japanese fleet off the Indo-China coast. The protest emphasised that the delegation could not consent to negotiate under this threat. VICHY REJECTS COMPROMISE NEW; YORK, February 22. The United Press Vichy correspondent says France has rejected the Japanese compromise settlement of the ludo-Chiua-Thailand conflict. TERMS OF JAPAN S PROPOSAL CESSION OF TWO PROVINCES TO THAILAND LONDON, February 23. (Received February 24, at 8 a.m.) The Associated Press Vichy correspondent says the Japanese proposal rejected by France was that Laos and Cambodia provinces in Indo-China should be ceded to Thailand. THE FRENCH EMPIRE GENERAL DE GAULLE'S DECLARATION LONDON, February 22. General de Gaulle and the Council of Defence of the French Empire today issued the following communique : “ Temporary disaster to France should in no way justify any enroachmeut whatever that might be made by any foreign Powers upon the integrity of the Empire’s territory or upon the rights of France in any part of the world. Any renunciation which might be accepted by the Vichy Government or its representatives would be considered as void by the Council of Defence of the French Empire. This declaration and resolution applies to th« particular case of Indo-China.” AMERICA HEADED FOR WAR GENERAL JOHNSON’S VIEWS PITTSBURGH, February 23. (Received February 24, at 11.40 a.m.Y General Hugh Johnson, in a speech, said the United States was headed for war. ‘‘ We shall be lucky if we are not in before the summer comes.” h« said. ” America’s greatest danger is in’ the Pacific.”