COASTAL AREA DRIVE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 18, 1 November 1940, Page 5

COASTAL AREA DRIVE.

COMMUNICATIONS ATTACKED.

SOME CREEK SUCCESSES. (Received This Day, 12.15 p.m.) LONDON, October 31. The Italians, hampered by snowfalls in Macedonia, continued to pound Greek positions along the front with artillery to-day, but apparently are confining the main drive to the coastal region. Both sides are bombing and machine-gunning communications from the air. “L’Avors Fascists” claims that the Italians crossed the Kalamas River and adds that the Greeks are resisting in some places, hut are generally falling back to their main lines and attempting to block the Italians’ communications.

Greek authorities claim that the Italians nowhere advanced more than six miles and nowhere contacted the main Greek defences.

It is estimated . that Greece has 400,000 men fully mobilised. Trains are hastening to the front with thousands of khakLclad troops. 'Many Greek units have already achieved outstanding offensive successes. Three companies held a whole division of Italian Alpine troops for many hours. A Greek platoon in another sector routed two Italian companies, which abandoned much equipment. As reinforcements arrive the Italians’ numerical superiority disappears. The Greeks are confident that they will bo able, with the help of "winter and' mountains, to withstand the Italians’ better armaments.

Greek reports indicate that the Italians have not begun a serious drive toward Salonika. The Italians concentrated large forces in the Korea region, ready for such a thrust, but have not achieved a significant advance. Italians similarly have not attempted to traverse the mid-front gap which leads to difficult country. The main thrust is therefore on the coastal belt, but even here, according to the Stefani News Agency, the weather has been most unfavourable. A week’s rain has transformed the roads into streams and the plains into swamps.