Signs Of Fresh Tactical Move

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 296, 13 December 1940, Page 7

Signs Of Fresh Tactical Move

GREEK CAMPAIGN

Desperate Italian Efforts Fail To Hold Advance

(United Press Association.—Copyright.—Rml. 1 p.m.)

LONDON, December 12

According to reports from the outskirts of the battlefield (he Italians' desperate effort to hold the Greeks in North Albania failed. The Greeks are reported to have advanced to positions in front of an important peak and also a mile and a quarter along the Lake Ohridsko shore road despite rivers of icy slush. The Italians have moved up reinforcements to the Devoli sector, where there is violent fighting. The Italians are striving to prevent the Greeks from descending to the valley, in which they will probably push on rapidly.

A dispatch from Athens says the Greeks are systematically pursuing the methods which brought earlier victories. There are continued signs that a fresh major tactical movement is developing. Another Athens message states that the Greeks captured an important new height in the Premeti area and repulsed heavy counter-attacks, in which some of Italy's best troops were used. The Greeks are reported to have repulsed a spirited Italian counter-attack at two points in the northern sector, inflicting heavy losses and capturing the Italians' original positions and large numbers of prisoners and material. Prisoners say ,the Italians have abandoned the aerodromes at Durazzo and Tirana because of most successful R.A.F. bombing, and are busily building temporary aerodromes.

The retreating Italians have reached Fort Palermo, but they are fighting bitterly on other sectors. The snowstorm continues to hamper operations north of the Mokra Mountains, where the Greeks were forced to form living chains, clasping hands, in order to advance.

In view of the fierceness of the blizzard, the Italians* one mountain position was completely surprised when Greeks appeared on all sides and routed the defenders.

The blizzard makes Italian provisioning difficult. Supply planes often fail to find their goal, and communications are reported to be interrupted in the Tirana region. The port of Valona is now useless for vessels of any size. The jetties are broken in several places, and a sunken transport has created a serious obstruction.

An earlier report said Italy had ceased to use Valona as a landing port in Albania because the harbour was under constant British and Greek bombing.

The British United F\ess Athens correspondent reports that the Greeks are recommissioning the Italian destroyer found halfsubmerged in Saranda last week. A plaque placed on the captain's bridge reads: "Presented to the Greek Navy by the R.A.F.*"