GREEK FORCES FIGHT ONWARD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 309, 30 December 1940, Page 7

GREEK FORCES FIGHT ONWARD.

WAR IN THE SNOW. Town Outflanked Despite Heavy Losses. United Tress Association.—Copyright. (Reed. 10 a.m.j LONDON, Dec. 29. A Greek communique announced that local operations of a limited scope had been successful, and that more prisoners had been taken. The Ministry of Security stated that Italians retreating from Himara took 10 prominent Greek citizens as hostages.

> The- frontier correspondent of the Belgrade paper "I'olitika" stated that the Greek advance forces had penetrated Lin. They launched an offensive at 2 a.m. to-day and continued to attack relentlessly until within a mile of Lin. With the advance guard lighting on the outskirts, the Greeks, despite heavy losses, outflanked the town and surrounding mountain passes, fighting in the snow. The Greek Government spokesman said another Greek offensive had been launched to the north-west of Himara. Mountain patrols had broken the Italian defences and occupied heights, though storms wore making the attack increasingly difficult. The Italian rearguard fought hard to cover the retreat.

Athens messages summarise the 24 hours to Friday night as a day of continued Italian retreat north-east of Himara and of further progress by the Greeks, who captured pri.mers, says British Official Wireless. From some of the heights captured —Greek artillery had been dragged on improvised sledges through deep snow by men and mules — the Greeks are shelling districts dominating the northern approaches to Tepeleni through the upper valley of the River Viosa. Further north, despite deep snow, the Greeks continued to drive back the Italians. Earlier messages stated thiit the Greeks were assisted by detachments of Albanians under the noted rebel leader, Bilial T°t, One detachment of the Greek right wing, attacking from the south-west, is reported to have forced the Italians, after a two and a half hours' battle, to retreat across the River Harboli, over the only bridge in the vicinity.

More than 200 prisoners, including several officers, have been taken in recent fighting, as well as. automatic rifles and other -material. In its advance the Greek Army is now being assisted by detachments of Albanians. An official Rome communique says: "On the Greek front enemy attacks were repulsed and some prisoners were taken. Bomber and fighter aircraft continued to attack troops, installations and road junctions. We bomljed the enemy naval base at Prevesa and scored a direct hit on a ship."

BIG LEAD.

ITALIAN FLAMES DOWNED. (Reed. 2 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 20. LONDON, Dec. 20. The Royal Air Force spokesman in Cairo said that SO Italian aeroplanes have definitely been destroyed since the invasion of Greece, and 1(1 more were probably destroyed. The Royal Air Force has lost eight bombers and four fighters. British aircraft have carried out 70 raids in the worst flying conditions in Europe. Italian aircraft, says a report from Athens, dropped 2QO bombs at Prevesa, Greece's nearest port to the Albanian front. No damage was caused and there were no victims, although the harbour was filled with shipping.

It is announced from the Genera] Headquarters of the British Air Force in Greece, says British Official Wireless, that in Southern Albania, shipping ancl military objectives on the foreshore at Valona were bombed successfully yesterday by Royal Air Force aircraft despite extremely bad weather. A heavy bomb was eeen to burst approximately 50 yards from a large ship. Other results were not observed owing to low cloud. All bombs, however, fell in the target area. All the British aircraft returned.

ROME RADIO MISTAKE.

(Reed. 10 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 20. The Rome radio said it was reported from Budapest that Count Teleki had resigned. ... Correcting this announcement later the radio explained that Count Michael Telekij Hungarian Minister of Agrb culture, had resigned not the Prime Minister, Count Paul Teleki, who is his brother.