WAR IN ALBANIA REVIEWED

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23194, 4 December 1940, Page 9

WAR IN ALBANIA REVIEWED

Italy’s Strategic Problems POSSIBLE GERMAN REACTIONS •0 (BRITISH OmeUL WIRELESS.) (Received December 3, 8 p.m.) RUGBY, December 2. “The Times,” in an editorial headed “The Italian Defeat,” takes a very favourable view of the outlook. It says: “The Greek victories are no flash in the pan. The Greek Army continues to advance. The port of Santi Quaranta must have ceased to be used for supply and Valona probably has been rendered useless, leaving the enemy to rely on Durazzo and what value he can extract from the roadstead of San Giovanni di Medua. “It would not be a surprise if within the next few days the Italians were to abandon southern Albania altogether, perhaps down to the line of the Shkumbi river which flows through Elbasan westward to the Adriatic. If that were to happen, it would not be inconceivable that Santi Quaranta should be used to supply the Greek Army on its western flank. “The opportunities for British naval and air action which were foreseen in the event of Italy launching an attack on Greece have not proved illusory. It is to the stout-hearted defence and dashing counter-offensive of the Greek Army that we owe the greater advantages, including fighter airfields on Greek soil, which we are now employing to so much effect. “The enemy has been severely shaken and every fresh blow inflicted will add to his discouragement and perturbation. On the other hand, a counterstroke by the Italian armoured division in the coast belt of Albania might have a very strong effect and supply a fillip to Italian confidence. Greek Communications ‘‘Lightly as the Greek soldier marches, even he requires lines of communication and the problem is one which can be solved only by the man on the spot. General Papagos (the Greek Commander-in-Chief) has the reputation of being prudent as well as energetic, and he can be relied on to weigh his actions with care and at the same time not to miss opportunities.

“It may be taken for granted that the Italian command will make the most strenuous efforts to repair the serious set-back to Italian plans and the damage to Italy's prestige. "The German reaction is more difficult to assess. Opinions vary whether Hitler will strike in the Balkans or await the spring and meanwhile accentuate his attacks upon Britain in the hope of preventing us from sending further powerful reinforcements to the Middle East. “The rate at which we reinforce the Middle East to a great extent is determined by the shipping available, and it is against our shipping and our ports that Germany’s heaviest blows are being directed. It provides a clue to the possible German policy. We must be ready in case Hitler should decide to strike harder at this country during the next three or four months.” The war between Greece and Italy has now been raging for a month. Reviewing events in the campaign, authoritative military commentators in London point out as the most striking feature that the war, which began with unprovoked invasion, now becomes an effective counter-attack carried out in Albania. Even on the coastal sector there are now no Italian troops in Greece, other than those held as prisoners. Originally, the Greek plan must have been purely defensive, with the object of protecting Salonika and the fact that in the northern sector the Greek counter-offensive has been most effective testifies to the brilliance of Greek generalship.

Importance of Koritza Informed military commentators emphasise the importance of the capture of Koritza. The Italian offensive was pressed forward less thoroughly in the northern sector than elsewhere. It is considered that a further advance in the central sector would lead the Greeks into open and relatively flat country where Italian modern mechanised troops could co-operate with advantage. Military circles discount stories that the Italians lack fighting power. Tho fact that prisoners have been captured by hundreds and not by thousands is considered to indicate that the retreat, though rapid, never became a rout and the comment is made that the Italians surrender only when they are surrounded. On the other hand It is considered that the Italian troops have been sacrificed to political needs and let down by bad organisation and planning, The Greeks have turned this to very good account and the conduct of the Greek Army, which had to fight every bit of the way, has been distinguished by the brilliance of the High Command and the skill, determination, and courage of the lower ranks. The Italian wireless is claiming that the Greek "affair” is of only minor importance and it hints that the scene of major operations will be the Suez Canal. However, the Italians are still 400 miles from the canal, and their commander, Marshal Graziani, is reported to be inspecting troops at Tripoli. All hopes of the Italians operating from Salonika in reinforcing their African army has gone, the capture of Koritza by the Greeks having removed that threat. On the other hand, Rome is saying that Signor Mussolini does not want help and that Germany will not give assistance in the Greek campaign. Italy did not need and would never need assistance in that field. It was hinted that large reinforcements were being sent to Albania. However, tho Italian statement that, if necessary, the Italians would raise a larger army than the whole population of Greece contrasts strangely with their “minor importance” claims about the Greek campaign.

ATTACKS OX SHIPPING DISTRESS MESSAGES PICKED UP NEW YORK, December 2. The Mackay radio reports that messages have been picked up showing that aircraft and submarines are attacking six more ships in the North Atlantic. The ships are the Cetvri, a Jugoslav vessel, the Victor Ross (12,247 tons), the Kilgerran Castle.the Ochranza (with the crew of another wrecked vessel aboard), the Whenrick, and another unknown vessel.