SERIOUS REVERSES

Evening Star, Issue 23833, 13 March 1941, Page 9

SERIOUS REVERSES

GREEKS CONTINUE OFFENSIVE OVER 3,000 PRISONERS BROUGHT IN FASCIST TROOPS DEMORALISED Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, March 12. The Italians are making a strong effort to regain their lost positions at various points in Albania, but so far have failed completely. The Greeks, continuing the offensive in the central sector, brought in over 3,000 prisoners. An Athens spokesman reports that the Greeks literally mowed down the advancing Italians. Those lucky enough to survive fell bacjj thoroughly demoralised. ITALIANS IN GREAT STRENGTH COMPLETE SUCCESS FOR GREEKS LONDON, March 12. (Received March 13, at 12.35 p.m.) A further series of Italian attacks and Greek counter-attacks resulted in complete success for the Greeks. The Italian forces were of greater strength than anything the Greeks have previously encountered, but the Greeks themselves have never before attacked with such powerful concentration nor such heavy artillery fire.

R.A.F. ACTIVITIES RHODES ISLAND BOMBED (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 12. (Received March 13, at 12.35 p.m.) The R.A.F. Albanian operations in which five enemy planes were destroyed form part of an R.A.F. Middle East communique dated Wednesday, which stated: Bombers of the R.A.F. carried • out a heavy raid on Rhodes Island during the night of March 10-11. At Calato an enemy aerodrome halfway between Lindos and Eakania was bombed, causing a largo fire in the south-west corner of the aerodrome following four heavy explosions and several small ones. The aerodromes at Maritza and Kattavuia were also attacked, causing fires. MANY BIG BDMBS NUMBER OF FIRES CAUSED (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 12. (Received March 13, at 1.30 p.m.) A Middle East communique on Wednesday says: The principal aerodromes on the island of Rhodes were heavily raided last night by R.A.F. bombers. A large quantity of- heavy bombs was dropped, causing a number of tires. A particularly large one was started in Maritza and another in Calato. Considerable damage was done to dispersed enemy aircraft. All our planes returned safely. CAPTAIN BOTTArS DEATH WAS FIRING AT HIS OWN MEN LONDON, March 12. The Athens Press Ministry stated that Captain (Bottai was killed when firing on his own retreating troops. He was the Italian Minister of Education, and was in command of' a force of Blackshirts. The Rome radio asserted that the Greek High Command has resorted to new propaganda tactics in the last few nights, when loud speakers in the front lines told the Italians that Greece has already won' the war. TOLL OF ENEMY PLANES FIVE DEFINITELY SHOT DOWN LONDON, March 12. (Received March 13, at 1 p.m.) A communique from the headquarters of the British forces in Greece to-day states • Troop movements and motor transport ou the Glava-Busi road were attacked by the R.A.F. bomber formation yesterday, but full results of the raid ' were not observed owing to low cloud. Our fighters intercepted a large formation of enemy fighters in thq central sector of the front. Five were definitely shot down, and a number of others severely damaged. All our planes returned safely.