LOCAL SUCCESSES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 25, 9 November 1940, Page 5

LOCAL SUCCESSES

GREEK CENTRE AND RIGHT.

STRENGTHENING THE DEFENCES.

ALBANIAN REBELS’ AMBUSH

(United Press Association—Copyright.) (Received This Day, 11 a.m.) LONDON, November 8.

Informed military circles in London state that Koritza appears to be still in Italian hands. There has been a small Greek advance about the region of Slemnitsa.

No further news has reached London of the contingent of Italian Alpine troops that was reported to be out off further soui)h, and the exact strength of this force is not- known. There are no certain reports of more than about 100 prisoners.

Further south, on the coastal front, the Greeks are reported to have gone back to the Akharon River—the Styx of ancient mythology. The line runs from there north to the upper region of the Kalamas River. There is heavy Italian pressure on this front.

The air raids on the Monastir aerodrome on Tuesday, when it was bombed and machine-gunned, are"regarded by military observers in London, as possibly an attempt to intimidate the Yugoslavs.

It is reported from Yugoslavia, that the Greek’s right wing, advancing across the 'Devoli River, occupied the village of Hocista, on the road to Koritza, four miles north-west of Bechlista. An Italian! major, four other officers and 59 troops were taken prisoner. s

The Greeks also scored local successes in the Janina sector, and continue to resist the Italians’ southern-most drive.

Albanian rebels ambushed an Italian column, killing 21 and taking prisoner 40 soldiers and capturing ammunition. The Italians again bombed Monastir (Yugoslavia). The high morale of the Greeks was to-day strengthened by new reports r f local successes om the right and in the centre, but- severe testing of the people and army is expected following reports that Marshal Badoglm is taking aver the command in Albania, and that the Italians are sending stronger forces of .fast planes to the front. The Grcfeks for their part are continually strengthening their defences, im - proving their artillery positions in mountain caverns, and diggng strip after strip of barbed-wire trenches across ridges, blocking the Italian troops’ supply columns by landslides and dynalnating bridges and road bends.