KORITZA SHELLED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24448, 6 November 1940, Page 7

KORITZA SHELLED

VITAL ITALIAN BASE

DOMINATED BY GREEKS ENEMY PORTS BOMBED (By Wireless) ’ LONDON. Nov. 5. (Received Nov. 6, at.-l a.m) The latest important development is that Greek artillery has commenced a heavy bombardment of Koritza, an important Italian base in Albania. All the main roads from northern Albania to Greece pass through Koritza. which is now dominated by the Greek forces on the surrounding heights. . . The Turkish radio, reviewing the fighting in Greece, expresses the belief that the Greeks will be able to capture Koritza, and if it should fall into their hands, the Italians would have great difficulty in sending reinforcements to any part of the front. - in actions on various parts of the front prisoners were taken by the Greeks, who, also captured much material. . One report says that a body of Italian troops was cut off on one sector of the front, qnd is in difficulties. It appears that they were sent forward into the mountains to try to take the Greek •j' positions in the rear, but lost their way and were gradually encircled by Greek forces. Italian planes dropped food intended for their own. troops., an action that was welcomed by the Greeks. The Italian airmen only found their mistake when they came down low v "to wave to their comrades and were greeted by machine-gun fire. Greek planes made heavy attacks on Italian troop concen- . trailons on-the coast west of Janina. A Greek corps of 30,000 strong is being raised in Egypt and is placing itself under British command. British bombers are reported to have gone into action ... yesterday against the naval base of Brindisi and at Bari, where troops and supplies arc being massed for transport to Albania. They also attacked the Albanian port of Santa ' Quaranta. All these reports come from Athens, and so far ....... -' there is no official news in London. Ail Athens message Vays .that the/Greek Air Force destroyed five Italian planes yesterday for the loss of one machine. Greek planes also attacked Italian concentrations and supply ; columns. < - " 1 ■ ; BIG, BATTLE DEVELOPING Th e Athens correspondent of the British United Press reports that the first heavy clash is occurring between the main bodies of Italian and Greek armies and that a large-scale battle is developing. The Belgrade correspondent of the Associated Press says that according to Greek sources on the Jugoslav frontier the Italians launched a big attack on the Epirus front, but the Greeks held the ’ positions taken by their counter-attack. * ■ . •. It is reported from Athens that a single plane Ay«>g ; °yf r , . S . pireaus,in the dropped a borpb in. the forking class district afid disappeared whert it slighted a British fighter. British Wellington bombers to-day plastered Bari and Brindisi, where, men and munitions are massed, also Santa Quaranta, the principal tranship'v inent port lor the Epirus and Macedonian fronts.

THE NEAR EAST

“PEACEFUL CONQUEST" AXIS POWERS’ HOPES '■' SOVIET COLLABORATION -. ' (United Press Association) (My Electric Telegraph—Copyright) >, NEW YORK, Noy. 4. (Received Nov. 5, at 11.55 p.m.) • According to the Switzerland. \ correspondent of the New York Times, diplomatic observers see a connection between the return of Herr von Papon from Turkey for a talk with Herr Hitler and a possible agreement between Moscow, Berlin and Rome on various questions appertaining ' to the Balkans and the . Near East, particularly Turkey. The questions to be discussed will perhaps, .go beyond a mere division of spoils and may include soheres of influence. The correspondent adds that probably one question will be active Russian collaboration in attaining “ peaceful conquest ” of the Near East by confronting any real resistance in that area with a solid military block. Turkey’s firm attitude towards Bulgaria is expected to cause the Axis Powers considerable embarrassment unless Russia is prevailed upon to withdraw the tacit support she is understood to have 'given Ankara. Such a withdrawal by the Soviet would leave Turkey virtually alone in the Near . East, and leave the Dardanelles open to relatively easy conquest, after which it would be but a step to continue the drive towards Syria, Iraq and the fuel suoolies in that area. Some quarters assert that M. Molotov is ready to sign on a dotted line making Russian adherence to the Tripartite Pact against aggression a fact instead of fancy. Thus would ■ Germany be able to show the remaining British sympathisers in the Near East, the futility of resisting her-new order for Europe. . „ ■r ■ ■;;r -Possibility of Tension

r . According to a Zurich message the Meuzuercher says that while the German press denies the possibility of German-Russian tension, the Russian press is much more non-com-mittal;, scarcely alluding to Russia’s relations with the Axis. It is reliably reported that the German garrisons on the RussoGerman frontier, especially in Czechoslovakia, have recently been considerably strengthened, causing Russia greatly to increase its garrisons in the Baltic States, the Ukraine, and Russian Poland, which are estimated to reach 150 fullyequipped divisions.

POSSIBLY BLUFF

INVASION OF GREECE ■ _ r / ; . C • • THE ITALIAN METHODS NO LIGHTNING ADVANCE (British Official Wireless) :: RUGBY. Nov. 4. (Received Nov. 5, at 7.30 p.m.) The gallantry and initiative of the small Greek Air Force and the resourcefulness and dash displayed by her troops have won the warmest commendation from Britain. The failure of the Italians to undertake that lightning attack which seemed dictated by weather considerations in a campaign begun so late in the season, caused surprise here. It is emphasised in the press that the fact is that it is the Greeks who, with small forces, have taken the initiative in the Kofitza-Salonika road area, while in the coast zone the Italian methods of advance have been deliberate rather than dashing, and this has enabled the Greeks to make immediate progress, with mobilisation and has afforded Britain time to put into operation plans already drawn up. The Times says: “Even if the whole affair is a piece of bluff masking preparations elsewhere —perhaps at the other end of the Mediterranean—interest as well as honour compels us to uphold the cause of Greece. Nor would the process of assistance to Greece necessarily weaken us in Egypt; on The contrary the acquisition of fresh naval bases would extend the power of the Mediterranean Fleet to maintain command of the sea and new air bases on Greek soil would shorten the range for the R.A.F, against Italian targets.” The Times adds: “ The Italian deliberation displayed hitherto must not blind us to the extent' of the peril in which Greece finds herself, and it should be noticed that the Italians have already begun installing a formidable mass of artillery, while in the air Greece must have already suffered severely. Here we can aid Greece, as well as on the sea. The task is not easy and will require all the ingenuity, resource, and boldness of the R.A.F, and the Fleet Air Arm. We can also increase the general pressure on the soil, which must provide the main base for operations.”

In view of the recent sufferings of the civilian population in Britain, and particularly of London, owing to the indiscriminate enemy bombings, special sympathy is shown by Britain in the general commendation in the press for an appeal by the Lord Mayor of London for subscriptions to the Mansion House Fund for the relief of war distress in Greece.