ITALIANS TRAPPED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 23, 7 November 1940, Page 5

ITALIANS TRAPPED

FORCE CAPTURED BY GREEKS. ANOTHER DIVISION SURROUNDED. DEJECTED YOUNG PRISONERS. (United Press Association. —Copyright.V LONDON, November 5. It is reported from Ochrida (Yugoslavia) that Greek forces in the Gorbec mountains, north of Bechlista, surrounded an. entire Italian division and also the base of the division, after, capturing the Albanian villages of Zagradtecetren and Progri oni the De» vol river.

The Greeks, supported by motorised light tanks, advanced along a second road from Lake Presba. If these Greek forces cross the Devol river, they will probably he in a position to capture the division, as they will then reach the main, road between Koritza and Bechlista,-where they should meet other Greeks advancing along the main road beyond Bechlista. Another Greek force captured 4000 well-equipped Italians stranded in a iravinja in the , Sanataporos valley :i in the Ivoritza. district. The Greeks closed the entrances and captured the Italian rearguard.. They then opened fire on the main force, many of whom abandoned their arms and surrendered. The ( rerhaindcr fled to .the ravirxa exits and met heavy fire, after which Greek cavalry compelled them to surrender. The Balkans correspondent of “The Times” says the Greek communiques announce the capture of another Albanian height. This presumably refers to- the heights opposite Morova Planina, northward of Zembak, or mojre probably the Strana heights north-eastward of Bechlista. Whichever is correct the capture materially improves the position of the Greeks occupying the spurs of Morovo Planin a,, because of their complete coverage of the Florin a-Koritza road as far as Zembak. The Italians have been persistently seeking to establish, bridgeheads across the Kaiamas iriver, near its mouth. The Greeks at least twicie were thrown back across the river, where the marshes, hamper the enemy’s use of tanks. , Although there are large-scale battles in this sector, there are continual back-and-forth movements in which the Greeks have taken some prisoners. The first Italian; prisoners to reach Salonika, are aged about 20 to 21. All were very dejected. They _ said they were transported to Albania without knowing their destination. The morale of all troops in Albania is believed to bo poor.

OCCUPIED BJ GREEKS. NEW SERIES OF HEIGHTS. CONSIDERABLE CAPTURES MADE, (Received This Day 0.10 a.m.) ATHENS, November 6. The High Command communique states: “Wo occupied a new series of fortified heights, with semi-permanent defences, in Albania after heavy fighting. IVo captured two guns, mortars, many machno-guns, materials and prisoners. Withdrawing enemy sections were attacked by their own tanks. There were • heavy artillery bombardments at places on the remainder of the front. Our planes successfully bombed Korea and Cjinokaster, destroying a considerable number of grounded planes, hangars and bivouacs. All our planes returned undamaged.

“The Italians bombed various points on the front, in addition to towns and villages in the interior, but did not hit military installations. The enemy lost two bombers yesterday.” The Ministry of Public Security, m a communique, reports that since October 28 219 civilians have been killed and 690 wounded in air raids.

Three Italian bombers coming from Albania made a half circle over Greece and then entered Yugoslavia in the direction of Monastic at 1,50 p.m., shortly before Mona stir was bombed.