GREEK OPERATIONS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 98, 25 March 1941, Page 5

GREEK OPERATIONS

ENEMY REPULSED. R.A.F. RAID BERAT. •.United Press Association —Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 11 a.m.) RUGBY, Mar. 24. A Greek Headquarters communique says that ou Sunday night there was some artillery activity. Offensive action by the. enemy was repulsed with heavy losses. The Greek Press Ministry, in a more detailed account 'of operations, says ail the news from the front is of a favourable character. “Greek patrols penetrated the enemy’s lines at a number of points and accomplished their missions, bringing back prisoners without suffering losses. “Artillery and the use of mortars caused important damage to installations and enemy columns. An Italian patrol which attempted to approach and penetrate our lines was completely stranded and the whole of its effectives were captured.” A Press message from Athens provides a contrast between the Greek and Italian methods of warfare. It will be remembered that on March 12 the Italians made a violent attack on the Greek hospital ship Socrates, although the ship was plainly marked according to international rules. It is now disclosed that during the previous week a formation of the Greek fleet encountered north of Crete the Italian hospital ship Toscana, which was given liberty to pass. “Bomber aircraft of the R.A.F. carried out a highly successful raid on Berat (Central Albania) yesterday,” states an R.A.F. Middle East communique. “Direct hits were registered on a runway and on dispersed enemy aircraft, at least two of which were totally destroyed and many others damaged. Debris . was seen to be thrown high in the air. “Our fighters intercepted a largo formation of Italian fighters in the same area and two were definitely shot down and several others severely damaged. Two were destroyed on the ground at the Berat aerodrome in a subsequent attack. “An enemy escarpment in the lepelene area wag also attacked, but the full results could not be observed.”