ALONG WHOLE FRONT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 39, 26 November 1940, Page 5

ALONG WHOLE FRONT.

ADVANCE BY THE GREEKS.

ALBANIAN TOWN CAPTURED.

(United Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, November 25. The latest official communique from Athens says that Greek troops are still advancing along the whole of the 150 miles •front, and that Moskopolis, north-west of Koritza, lias been occupied. During mopping-up operations near Koritza, 1500 prisoners, 12 heavy guns, several mortars, and other materials were* taken. The communique added that three Italian columns were bombed with great success.

Moskopolis is a small mountain resort 10 miles north-west of Koritza and it was thought that the Italians might have been able to make a stand there.

In Epirus, at the southern end of the front, Konispolis, and other small towns have been occupied by the Greeks. Konispolis is on the road to Argyrokastron, which the Greeks are said to he on the point of capturing. Other reports say that in the Koritza sector the Greeks have entered Pogradetz, 25 miles north of Koritza, and that advance troops are pushing on toward the important centre of Elbasan. It is said that the retreating Italians are being harried by Albanians. According to the Athens correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph,” Italy’s pre-war military dispositions in Albania did not contemplate a defensive action. Assuming that the Greeks will be able to continue the pressure, it is doubted whether the Italians will be able to find a tenable defence position until they reach a line between Valona, Elbasan and Lake Ochrida, but this will compare poorly with the line the Italians were compelled to abandon.

The correspondent adds that clearly a master brain has directed the. Greek defence and the counter-stroke. The Greek defences were elastic in the early days of the invasion, while holding firmly to the northern sector in which was the biggest Italian concentration. The original success of the Greeks in the northern sector facilitated the triumph .in the centre, and this likewise was a factor in the Italian retreat in the Epirus.