ITALIAN PORT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23809, 9 November 1940, Page 11

ITALIAN PORT

HEAVY BRITISH RAID GREEKS FIGHTING WELL ENEMY FORCE REPULSED By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received November 8, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 7 A communique from the Royal Air Force at Cairo says aeroplanes heavily raided military objectives at Brindisi, the important Italian seaport on the Adriatic, attacking the naval dockyard, destroyer and submarine pens, the main railway junction and sidings. Many bombs burst on the target area and a fire, which was started between the naval dockyard and the rail terminus, continued to burn steadily. Bombs which exploded in the dockyard area set fire to a building beside the railway. A further Eoyal Air Force communique states that aircraft made extensive reconnaissances of Italian ports and coastal waters, and fighters patrolled over Greek territory without meeting any Italian aircraft. British aeroplanes co-operated with the Greek Air Force in patrol work and raids on Wednesday. British bombers attacked towns and ports in southern Italy and ports in Albania. Valona, an important receiving base for the Epirus front, was heavily, damaged.

Slight Retreat in Epirus

A Greek communique on Thursday morning reported "that they had heavily repulsed Italians attempting to attack the road between Janina and Argyrokastron, near the village of Visani, 15 miles from Janina. Greek aeroplanes bombed Argyrokastron. An earlier Greek communique admitted a slight retreat on the left extremity of the Epirus front. "There was an exchange of artillery fire yesterday along the whole northern front," it stated. "Our troops on the extreme left, near the sea coast, have fallen back slightly."

Otherwise news from the front continues to give satisfaction. All gains in Albania are reported to be firmly held and reinforced. The Greeks have taken nine howitzers, four field guns and 32 machine-guns, besides "prisoners on the central front, where an Italian force is cut off in the Pindus region. Most captures were made as isolated units attempted to escape from a trap in a network of deep ravines. Italian Air Raids The Greek Ministry of Security has announced that Italian raiders destroyed a church at Volo and also damaged a monastery and bombed Corfu, Patras, Corinth and Larissa. Insignificant damage was done. They also attacked a seaside resort, where a few women and children were killed.

Italian pilots who were brought down in recent raids and who have arrived at Athens said: "We understood that Greece would not defend herself."

All unconscripted Greek workers aged from 16 to 60 years have been mobilised for the war effort.

The Greek Prime Minister, General Metexas, stated in a speech that British aid to Greece was now flowing regularly and in accordance to plan. BRITAIN WARNS ITALY RETALIATION ON ROME LONDON, Nov. 7 The Foreign Under-Secretary, Mr. B. A. Butler, said in the House of Common's that the Government had noted the Italian statement that Italian men and aeroplanes had taken part in the bombing of London. Accordingly Britain reserved full liberty of action as regards Rome. DESTROYED BY GREEKS NINE ITALIAN TANKS LONDON, Nov. 8 The nine Italian tanks reported to have been disabled by the Greeks with British anti-tank guns five days ago, are now said to have been destroyed as a result of a daring action by Greek infantry and engineers under cover of darkness. DEAD BRITISH AIRMAN (Received November S, 7.10 p.m.) ATHENS, Nov. 7 The first British airman to die for Greece was buried with military honours to-day. The Prime Minister, General Metaxas, attended the funeral. ITALIAN CLAIMS LONDON, Nov. 7 A Rome communique claims that the Italians crossed the Kalamas River, which enters the sea opposite Corfu. The Italian air force bombed a number of Greek towns.