OFFENSIVE AWAITED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 17, 31 October 1940, Page 5

OFFENSIVE AWAITED.

GREEKS PREPARED DEFENCE. ITALIANS CLAIM SUCCESS. LONDON, October 29. Beyond the fact that Fiorina, and Kastoria. have been bombed, military circles in London, have little news of the operations in Greece. It appears that Greek outposts have withdrawn in some places from the forward line and there have been artillery duels along the frontier. Two defence areas have been; prepared. One line is from Janina to Kastoria nmd Fiorina and the other from Kozani to E'dessa. Informed circles point out that these lines are neither continuous nor of the Hindcnburg Line nature. No reports of enemy action against Corfu havei been received mor of any British landing in Crete. Germanycirculated similar rumours at the time of the invasion of Norway and informed quarters consider that the same kind of tactics are now being adopted; by Italy with the object of raising hopes in order to take advantage of the subsequent reaction. There is still no. news to show that the Italians have started their real offensive on the Albanian frontier. The offensive was to have started at dawn, but the Greeks are still holding their positions in the mountains. At the same time., the Italians deny that the Greeks have advanced into Albania.

A report from Tirana states that the Italians broke the Creek line on the northern tip of the Albanian frontier, and that there has been heavy fighting on othea- parts of the frontier.