ALBANIAN REVOLT.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 142, 15 June 1920, Page 5

ALBANIAN REVOLT.

ITALIANS DRIVEN BACK. VALONA FIERCELY ATTACKED. CBy Cable.—(Prose Association.—Copj-right.) ROME, June 14. A national rising against the Italians is in progress in Albania. Fifteen thousand Albanian insurgents attacked I Valona, the chief Italian base on the j coast. The fight, which began at midnight, raged furiouely for four hours. The insurgents mined all the roads lead- | ing from the town, destroyed bridges, \ and planted captured Italian guns on i heights overlooking the town. With [ thess they shelled the Italian naval base during the main attack, Italian warships replying. The plight of the defenders appeared almost hopeless at four o'clock in the morning, owing to a treacherous attack by Mohammedans on their rear, but n detachment of Alpini made a desperate charge, slaying 200 of the enemy and capturing several thousand and a number of gune. The Italians then rounded up all the Mohammedans in the city, whom they deported to Brindisi. The Italian lossea were severe. The first list contains the names of 37 officers missing. There Rre disquieting rumours concerning the fate of the Uαlinn garrison at Scutari. Italian garrisons at Santi Qijjiranta, Dulcitjno, and Antivnri have been forced to embark. A small parrison at Tepplino, in the interior, though it has been surrounded for many days, is still holding out, and is receiving rations by aeroplane. The Durnzzo garrison continues pluekily to resist, but everything is ready for evacuation. Strikes of seamen and railwaymen are occurring in many ports and cities in Italy in order to prevent the dispatch of troops and material to Albania.—(A. and X.Z. Cable.) During the war Greece, occupied the southern portion of Albania, whoee independence of Turkey was conceded in 1913. while Italy l»ecame responsible for the remainder of the country. She drove out the Austrian inva-dere. and set up a Government at Durazzo. The League of Xaltioros .guaranteed Albania's independence, under whose mandate Italy became the controlling power. A proud •and high-spirited race, the Albanians have resented any interference with their autonomy, and their resentment has rapidly grown until, from success of revolt here and there, the whole country is now aflame, a rival Government to that established by Italy having been set up in the capital Ihirazzo. The population nunrbere 300,000. Roads among the mountains are few, and Italy has a very difficult task ahead in pacifying ■the country, especially in view of the obstructional tactics on the home front.