HEAVY BLOWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23850, 28 December 1940, Page 7

HEAVY BLOWS

BRITISH ASSISTANCE MANY DESTRUCTIVE RAIDS TOLL OF ENEMY MACHINES British Wireless LONDON, Dec. 26 A review of Royal Air Force operations in support of the (Jreek Army and Air Force shows widespread damage, inflicted by bombers from November 7. The activity of the British fighters began on November 18, when Gladiator machines arrived in Greece and went into action the same day, destroying nine Italian aeroplanes. The enemy lost 39 aeroplanes for certain d urine the period from November 7 to December 21. besides a number probably destroyed. Nine British machines are reported missing. Mountainous Country The Air Ministry News Service says that all the operations took place in mountainous eonntry somewhat resembling the north-west frontier of India. The main features of the offensive were attacks on V a lon a. Durraao and Santi Quaranta. Vnlona was bombed on 'November 7. ]]. 12. l:{ and 17 and l)i eember 2, 6 and 7. The main damage was an explosion on a munitions dump on November 11, the .setting on lire of two large ships on December 2. the blowing up of a munition dump on Deeeruber 6, and the burning of barracks, a warehouse and petrol dumps on various dates. Dura7.7,o was attacked on November 11. 17, 19, 24, and 28 and the night of December 15. The principal damage was done on November 11, when a petrol depot was set on fire and completely burned out and a wooden jetty burned. Destroyers Bombed Santi Quaranta was raided on November 10 and 28. The docks suffered damage, and two destroyers shelling Corfu were bombed. Other important, objectives included the I irana aerodrome, Konispolis, Kelkyre, Argyrokastron, Klbasan and Tepelerti. Ibe last-named is an important road junction. Since I! ival Air I'oree activity began, British bomber and tighter aircraft have maintained close co-operation with the (<ieek Air I'oree, the members of which have displayed very considerable skill and courage, evoking the admiration of their British comrades. GERMAN LIFEBOAT CONJECTURE ON ORIGIN NEW X<">RK, Dec. '2O The master of a Portuguese freighter reports that he sighted an einpt,v'"lifeboat marked ''Hamburg,'' 800 miles off the coast of Portugal, suggesting that a German sea raider may have been destroyed.