ITALIAN NAVAL BASE MENACED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 47, 5 December 1940, Page 5

ITALIAN NAVAL BASE MENACED.

GREEKS CONTROL IN SOUTH. THRUST IN NORTH CONTINUES. LONDON, December 4. Greek forces are noAV only a mile from the Italian naval base of Santi Quaranta, and the Italians holding Argyrokastron liaA'e been placed in a desperate position by the Greek capture of tAvo important heights dominating the town from the east.

Th,o Greeks iioav control the Avhole of the southern end of Albania betAvecn Argyrokastron and iSanti Quaranta. After making a stand north of Pogradetz, the Italians are again retreating. It is reA r ealed that, two Greek cavalry companies drove an entire batallion from heights of the utmost strategic importance, and as a result the main body of the Italians Avas forced to eA’-aciiatc positions affording excellent possibilities for defence. The Athens correspondent of “ The Times” says that the main Italian forces on the northern front will henceforth be able to do little more than fight rearguard actions until they are installed in the next defence line 50 miles beyond the present positions. Considerable hard plodding confronts the Greeks if they attempt to gain this line, but the intervening struggle, according to the present outlook, is unlikely to consist of’more than methodical thrusts and mopping up. If the Greeks are successful they will undoubtedly be able to. giye an imposing list of captured A'illages. Late dispatches received from Athens emphasise that bad Aveather is preventing major operations on the northern front, although there have been heavy artillery, duels. The Greeks are advancing sloAvly north of Pogradetz along the road past Lake Qchrida and have reached a point just beyond Muministe. -Greek. adA-ance posts in some places are AA'itliin 100 yards of the Italians. " “ ' ''

The most marked'ltalian, retreat .on Monday was in the Southeim. simtor, AA-here tho enemy AAuthdreAV to .the Delvino heights. Italian and Greek Infantry yesterday fought a pitched battle in the marshes. The Greeks surprised the'ltalians" at daAvn bv attacking across bogs which, the Italians, considered it impossible to cross. The Greeks are now tAvice as far into. Albania, as the Italians ever penetrated into Greece.

Near the Vojiuza River on Monday, the Greeks, fighting Avitli unbounded courage, captured a height in the Politsani Mountains, AA r here the Italians possessed strongly - defended positions Greek pressure Avas also accentuated' in the Premeti region. A vigorous Italian counter-attack botwoen the villages of Theri and- Postuna, south-Avest of Pogradetz, Avas smashed by the Greeks. An Athens message . states that Italian soldiers continue to enter Yugoslavia, where they are interned.