THE ITALIAN ARMY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 37, 23 November 1940, Page 5

THE ITALIAN ARMY.

“EVERYTHING EXCEPT MORALE” ALBANIAN®’ BITTER (COMPLAINT. ; v 1,.. ' j, ■' •• (Received This Day, 2.0 a.m.) LONDON, November 22. The Athens correspondent of “The Times’refers to the amazing spirit of the Greek wounded. He says that Italian prisoners tell a different story of their army. , One explained: “Our army has everything except morale. I only hope the entire army surrenders .to stop the war.”.' : . . j . None of a group of Albanian militiamen whom the Greeks took prisoner showed the least interest whether Italy won the war, but they did not express the expectation nor'.even the hope of an Albanian revolution. All complained bitterly of the arrogance of Italian officers. Two Albanian battalions are attached to each Italian division. The Greeks have captured so many Italian lorries that they had not enough drivers, so they sent a message to Athens to round up chauffeurs. Three hundred gendarmes have left Athens to police occupied territory in Albania.

ADVANCE GUARD ENTERS. NEW SUCCESSES ELSEWHERE. I GREEK FORCES IN ALBANIA. ■ ! LONDON, November 22. There is no official news from Greece to confirm the fall of Koritza, but reports from Athens say that the Italians have abandoned the town and occupation by the Greeks will be only a matter of hours. Advance detachments are said to be marking time on the eastern outskirts until the main forces desceiid from the Morava heights. In Epirus, the main Greek forces are reported to have crossed the Albanian frontier and are said to be pursuing th ? Italians towards Argyrokastron. In this sector the Greeks are making their main thrust and it is said that, the Greeks threaten to cut off the Italians from their bases in Albania. The Athens correspondent of the “Daily Mail” says that a Greek advance guard has entered Ivoritza min that the Italians are retreating hurriedly towards Pogradetz. The Italian. Commander-in-Chief (General Soddu) yesterday morning ordered the advance of one mechanised and one heavy infantry division from Pogradetz. Thus two Italian divisions are advancing while the garrison at Koritza is retreating over the same inadequate, rough road. The Greek Air Force, the correspondent adds, has not failed to profit from the opportunity to crcat : even greater confusion. This morning’s Greek communique says that on the whole front the strug gle continued throughout yesterday an 1 Greek troops scored new successes. The*’ captured 15 guns, including seven heavy guns and four anti-aircraft guns, machine-guns, material of all kinds, food and oil depots.

CAPTURE OF ARMS. FOOD AND FUEL DEPOTS ALSO. GREEK REPORT OF.SUCCESS. (Received This Day, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, November 22. Commenting on the advance, authorities at Athens are emphatic m asserting that the Greeks will not 'illow themselves to be drawn into certain sectors by the fleeing enemy. The Greek High Command communique covering the fighting yesterday was brief. It reported: Our troops scored new successes. Five pieces ol artillery, of which four were heavy guns and seven anti-aircraft guns, dozens of machine-guns, mortars, and all kinds of war materials, as well as- food and* fuel depots, have fallen into our hands. Our aircraft carried out reconnaissance bombing flights over the battlefield. — British Official "Wireless.