GREEKS STAND FIRM

Southland Times, Issue 24273, 2 November 1940, Page 5

GREEKS STAND FIRM

Surprise At Slow Italian Advance APOLOGISTS OF AXIS MAKE excuses (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received November 1, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, November 1. The Greeks claim that yesterday the Italian attacks on all sectors were repulsed. In spite of bad weather the Greek Air Force carried out successful operations. Greek naval units heavily shelled Italian advance positions on the mainland, opposite Corfu. No Italian warships or planes appeared. An Italian communique claims that two columns are advancing on Janina and that one is five miles and that the other is 10 miles from the town, but a Belgrade message says that nowhere have the Italians penetrated more than nine miles into Greece. The Daily Mail’s Sofia correspondent says: The slow advance of the Italians in Greece is causing bewilderment in the Balkans. Messages from Rome ostentatiously describe the operations as “a punitive expedition.” Axis propaganda even hints that the war will fizzle out when the Italians have gained a few successes for prestige._ The Rome radio says: The Italian advance was not pursued with lightning

speed because we still hope the Greek Government will repent its rash action. Second, mountain fighting must be slow and sure, economizing lives and material before the sweeping, conquering advance begins. Axis propaganda now alleges that General Metaxas misunderstood the purpose of the Italian ultimatum and that the object was to have a settlement with Greece on the lines of that with Denmark. WANTON AGGRESSION OF MUSSOLINI BRITISH LABOUR VOICES ITS DETESTATION (British Official Wireless) (Received November 1, 7.30 p.m.) RUGBY, October 31. After a meeting today of the National Council of Labour, which was attended by Mr C. R. Attlee, the following statement was issued: “The National Council of Labour expresses its detestation of the cowardly and despicable act of wanton aggression committed by Mussolini against the Greek nation. This aggression, like similar crimes committed by the Axis Powers, was perpetrated in spite of categorical pledges giyen by the Fascist Government that Italy had no warlike intention against Greece. The council, on behalf of the British Trades Union, Labour and co-operative movements, sends its greetings to the people of Greece and Albania, and assures them that the British workers are with them in their gallant resistance to Nazi and Fascist tyranny, and are confident of the final victory of our common cause.”