The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-08-23
BRITAIN, ITALY
MASSINC FLEETS
CONTINUED from Page y

taxas was seeking the aid Of Adolf
Hitler or that Greek army leaves
had been cancelled.
Greece has made no real prepara-
ton for war but Greeks seemed
rady to max stand if Italy at
tackled and they seemed to have
confidence that they would have the
support not only Of Great Britain
but of Turkey and Jugoslavia.
For the present the government
seemed to be putting its reliance on
the guarantee by Great Britain Of
assistance if Greece were attackd.
Italian Mountain Troops
Columns of Italian mountain
troops were reported occupying
strategic passes in the rugged Alban-
ian mountains facing the Greek
frontier but rumors that frontier in
cidentS already had occurred were
not credited here.
The United Press Correspondent
at Corfu reported by telephone to-
day that all was normal there and
that there was no confirmation Of
reports that the British had occu-
pied the Island, reported about to
be demanded from Greece by Italy.
It was reported also that all was
quite on Crete.
The semi-official news agency
again today described as pure in
ventions" Albanian press reports
that Greece was arming bands OF
Albanian terrorists.
n-sx.s- vHy:xI. Nwoon~
i London, Aug. 23-CUP)-British
official quarters today authorized
the statement that Britain stands
by her guarantee to Greece up to
the hilt."
It was reaffirmed officially that If
Greece were the victim of an un-
provoked attack and resisted it,
Britain would come to her assist
ance with all valuable armed forces.
Officials denied reports that Brit
. ish forces had occupied Corfu. They
suggested that italian propagandists
had circulated the report. They said
they had no confirmation Of rumors
of an Italian ultimatum to Greece
to renounce her British guarantee.
Italian Ships Sunk
Cairo, Aug. 23-CUP)-A Roya.
Air Force communitque asserted to-
day that British airplanes had sunk
two italian submarines, destroyer
and a submarine depot ship.
The italian ships were at anchor
part of a fleet in Bona roadstead
the communique said, when low
sweeping British planes attacked
them and scoring direct hits on the
ships specified, destroyed them.
The attacking British planes, the
communiue said, were fired on BY
heavy anti-aircraft pom pom anc
multiple machine guns.
Ut was assumed that the COM
munique referred to Bona Road
. stead, in the gulf of Coma on the
coast of Libya)
No Italy Uutimatum
Rome, Aug. % - (UP) - Authori.
tative quarters denied categorically
today that italy had served an ul-
itmatum on Greece, giving her "a
hours to renounce her British guar.
antees.
The same quarters discredited re-
ports that the British had occupied
the Greek Islands Of Crete and
Corfu. 1t was said that If there had
been any such occupation 1t certain
. ly would be known here, and thai
nothing had been heard Of it.
Bomb Alexandria
Rome, Aug. 23-(UP)- italian
planes have bombed the port Of
Alexandria, Egypt, and British
convoy, escorted by two destropers
in the eastern Mediterranean.
high command communique said to-
day.
British planes carried out raids
over italian Africa, the communique
said, including Bomba and Derna
in North Africa, Mogadiscio IN 1tal-
ian Somaliland and Massawa. Fri
trea. but did no serious damage.