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fixed points ashore.iefonGreeks' Desperate Need Of WarplanesfMeR 1turforblatirhtIkiers.vereifferthatkpseihedtheDaily Telegraph ServiceLONDON, Thursday.The Greeks desperately need the support of British fighter planes to combat Italian dive-bombers, says Terence Atherton, the Daily Mail's correspondent on the Greek front.olClimwoJ«trne-*MiRunieptm-iheofKpmsr In iarly jrew xge-wbonfljr of a t ofre-! ln-Atherton claims to be the first and only newspaperman reporting the war from the Greek front.Atherton, who was with the Greek Third Army on the Greek right flank yesterday, says:I saw only five Greek planes on this front In three days, but Italian bombers were over eight to ten times a day, dropping their bombs Just where they wished.In perfect sunny autumn weather, I have seen Italian bombers cross and recroas the Greek lines without hindrance.I stood alongside soldiers who Impotent!? emptied their rifles arainsl low-flying Havolas. which replied with high-powered machine-gun fire.Prom a staff officer and a private, both injured by bomb splinters, I heard only one cry: 'Planes, planes, planes! That's all we need I'*'I have been three days with victorious Greek battalions.“The Greek forces are fighting with Incredible ferocity and determination.“I have stood on a hill and, with powerful glasses, watched the Greeks throw the Italians back.“But If they are to continue this victorious sweep Lhey must have fighter planes—and quickly.tote«©orsandlallyirlngtime»mbmilehich'hole?ide-eretf.andon'sAttack On MoraleThe Greek High Command has appealed to the British Military Mission at Athens to meet this need Immediately,” Atherton says.“X can bear out the urgency of this request, from first-hand observations at the front.“Italy Is trying to win this war first and foremost by the destruction of the Greek morale by continual and pitiless bombing of non-military centres.“Today I crossed the Greek frontier lo Monastir (southern Yugoslavia) to send this first despatch from the Albanian front.t).•r-ti-m-ild•'alerhev-Expect DeathI have talked with wounded Italian soldiers—frightened, bewildered men— frightened because they believed that Balkan armies did not hold prisoners, but killed them.Yesterday I saw Italian prisoners gladly trading their tunic buttons and badges for Greek cigarettes.All the lime they wondered when they would be taken off and shot.As I left for Monastir, Greek battalions were pressing on to Korea (Italian base. 14 miles Inside Albania).On Monday I Interviewed an Italian pilot, whose trl-motored bomber came down undamaged on a Greek airfield near Xastoria (Inside Greece, on the Albanian frontier).He mistook Lake Kaatorla for an Albanian lake of similar contour.“The pilot told me: 'I have served In Abyssinia. Spain, and Albania, and I'm sick of it. It's the Duce's war, so let him finish It-’The Greek General Staff is controlling activities from a village between Fiorina and the front.•'Technical staffs have set up an elaborate telephone system, linking strategic points on the battle front.thnebetetotxidibethavT1dttr*beFifth ColumnThe simple headquarters are hidden under the camouflage of trees. They change from night to night.One reason for the sudden and Irregular moves Is that the Greeks are fighting against Fifth Column activities. largely manoeuvred by Macedonian Bulgarians, several hundreds of whom have been rounded up in the Fiorina district.Concentration camps at Salonika are filled with Fifth Columnists drawn from all parts of Greece.Two days ago three Greek soldiers of Bulgarian origin lied from the Greek front line Into the Italian lines.“Next day Italian planes came over and bombed two Greek artillery positions.There Is a consuming crave in the Greek army for trophies and souvenirs.Nearly every Greek soldier wears a piece of green Italian uniform cloth, pinned on his tunic.On the Fiorina front the uniforms of an Italian major and captain and an Italian flag were cut up into thousands of pieces and distributed among the troops as souvenirs.”Greek WithdrawalsA Greek Government spokesman last night told a British United Press cor-respondent tliat every Italian had been driven out of Greece, except those who had been taken prisoner.Bat the latest Greek communique says Ihcre have been slight Greek withdrawals tn the Epima region (Greek left flank).The communique adds: Our artillery has been in action on the entire front.Yesterday our right-wing forces captured four field guns, nine mortars, and 23 machine-guns.”The rest, of the communique refersbriefly to j-esterday's Italian‘air-raids, in which there were somecasualties, but no military damage.The B.B.C. said lost night that a full-scale Italian offensive against the Greeks coaid be expected soon.The main battlefield is still on the Greek right wing, in the comer of the Greek. Albanian, and Yugoslavian frontiers.At this point the Oreeks have driven the Italians back into Albania.Art A them report says that Korea Is still under Greek fire.
Newspaper Details
Sydney Daily Telegraph
Sydney, New South Wales, AU
Fri, Nov 08, 1940
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 18 Dec 2021
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