GAINS BY GREEKS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 59, 19 December 1940, Page 5

GAINS BY GREEKS.

THE ADVANCE IN KLISURA.

COUNTER-ATTACKS BROKEN. LONDON, December 18. The Greek War Ministry’s latest communique says: “The enemy Avas obliged to retreat with heavy losses under pressure from our troops towards Klisura, where fires were noticed. ’ ‘ - . “On the other fronts the fighting continues successfully. We captured many prisoners, among Avliom Avas a lieutenant-colonel, and much AA ? ar material.”

After 51 days’ war the Greeks everywhere are maintaining the initiative. The Italians launched counter-attacks at points on the whole Albanian front. The Greeks, however, not only broke up these, buij, occupied various small towns and hilltops. The battle in the Tepelini region is passing through a particularly fierce phase. The Italians are making a last desperate effort,' but the Greeks are holding a number of yery useful strategic points. Several Italian units were dispersed in the Pogi adetz sector, the importance of which is indicated by the strength of the reinforcements which both sides are bringing up. Blizzard conditions have practically brought operations in the Devol valley to a standstill. Useless Slaughter. The Athens correspondent of “The Times” says that in spite of the bad Hying weather the Italians are forcing their, aircraft into action in certain sectors to maintain the ebbing morale of the troops, but the results are negligible.

The general position, he says, is that the Italian's everywhere are slowly but surely . withdrawing. They have unsuccessfully endeavoured to protract operations until the spring by transforming the war of movement to trench fighting. The correspondent adds that the Modena Division has been thrown into the fighting on the central front and another Alpine Division further left. The latter seven times vainly attempted to recapture Mount Skovovic. A Greek observer declares that the Italian leaders have subjected their men to useless slaughter to justify tho subsequent retreat. A similar fate was suffered by a specially chosen counteratacking force in the Dryno river area, where the Modena Division retired after heavy losses, leaving 200 prisoners, including a senior officer.

All fortified positions on both sides of the Dryno river descending to Tepelini are now held by the Greeks. The Italians have withdrawn to new positions on the heights on both sides of Tepelini. Italian 75’s are keeping the road to Argvrokastron under continuous fire.

Recent blizzards have thrown up natural barriers on the north-west front. Show more than six feet deep is blocking the roads and filling the ravines. Italian Gain Indicated. Indications that the Italians have recaptured Porto Palermo, on the Adriatic coast south of Khimara, were given when an official Greek spokesman last night denied that it was now in Greek hands. He said that the Greeks again had the Gulf of Porto Palermo under artillery fire, and referred to heavy Italian resistance in the coastal sector.

Greek aeroplanes blew up a large ammunition dump on the northern front and killed a largo number of Italians massed nearby.

The Athens correspondent of the “Dasy Telegraph”' saysi that the Italians’ increasing use of crack troops is Very significant. This skimming of the cream of tho army represents living on capital in a military sense calculated to lower tho army’s morale.

A shortage of blankets and woollens is seriously hampering the Greeks Tho terrific cold has driven wild boars and wolves from tho hills. Wounded soldiers are obliged to lie on stretchers in heaps of snow for hours, covered by a single blanket. The Greek advance is very fast and there is no time to care for them.