GREEKS HAVE NEW SUCCESSES

Southland Times, Issue 24368, 24 February 1941, Page 5

GREEKS HAVE NEW SUCCESSES

LONDON, February 21

Better weather has enabled the Allies to intensify their bombing and machine-gunning of Italian positions an<4 encampments in Albania with good results.

The Greek troops have achieved new successes, in one of which an Italian battalion was almost wiped out. The Italians, in another operation on the central front, resisted to the last. Their losses were terrible. Most of the men were killed and some were captured. Very few escaped before the position was taken at bayonet point. The Italians lost 20 officers.

In a deperate effort to ward off persistent blows from the British and Greek Air Forces the Italians are putting large formations of fighters into Albania, but they are suffering heavy losses.

Tire highly successful actions fought by Royal Air Force squadrons jver Albania on Friday were the feature of the Middle East communique from the Royal Air Force headquarters. This states that the Royal Air Force was again very active in Albania on Friday. A particularly heavy raid was made on Berat, where the barracks were badly damaged and a number of fires were started, followed by explosions. At Tepeleni enemy stores and troop concentrations were successfully attacked. Much damage and confusion were caused. British bombers were escorted by fighters in these raids and in engagements with the enemy seven of their fighters were shot down without loss to the Royal Air Force. Other enemy aircraft were severely damaged.

Additional details of the successful Royal Air Force actions over Albania are given in a communique from British Headquarters in Greece. In the raid on Berat, it stated, a large petrol dump was set on fire.