GREEK PATROLS ACTIVE

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23262, 24 February 1941, Page 7

GREEK PATROLS ACTIVE

More Successes In Albania

BERAT RAIDED BY R.A.F. rCNITEO PRESS iSSOCIATIOS—COPYRIGHT.) (Received February 23, 11 p.m.) LONDON, February 23. The latest Greek communique speaks of restricted patrol activity and the capture of Italians. A Reuter correspondent says that the Greeks launched two attacks, one north of Pogradetz, in which 200 Italians were captured, and the other, much larger, on the central front, in which the Italians suffered heavy losses Other reports say that Greek troops have achieved new successes, notably in one engagement in which an Italian battalion was almost wiped out. The Italians, in another operation on the central front, resisted to the last. Their losses were terrible. Most of them were killed and some were captured.; Very few escaped before the position was taken by the bayonet. The Italians lost 20 officers. An Athens radio spokesman said that the latest Greek successes had given them positions from which they could more easily reach their main objectives. Greek artillery could now operate more actively, because it could now dominate the whole area. Highly successful actions fought by Royal Air Force squadrons over Albania on Thursday are a feature of a communique from the Royal Air Force headquarters in the Middle East, which says; "The Royal Air Force was again very active in Albania on Thursday. A particularly heavy raid was made on Berat, where the barracks were badly damaged and a number o'f fires were started, followed by explosions. At Tepeleni enemy stores and troop concentrations were successfully attacked, and much damage and confusion caused. The British bombers were escox-ted by fighters in these raids, and in engagements with the enemy seven of their fighters were shot down without loss to the Royal Air Force. Other enemy aircraft were severely damaged,” Better weather has enabled the Allies to intensify the bombing and machine-gunning of Italian positions and encampments In Albania with good results.

FAMINE IN THE DODECANESE

ACCOUNT GIVEN BY. REFUGEES ITALIAN MORALE SAID TO BE LOW (Received February 23, 9 p.m.) ATHENS, February 22. According to the Athens radio, 33 refugees from the Dodecanese Islands who have arrived in Turkey said that the inhabitants of the Dodecanese were dying in such numbers from starvation that the Italians had forbidden the ringing of church bells in an attempt to keep up morale. The authorities are denying the islanders meat, sugar, and coffee, and are allowing seven ounces of lamp oil a month. For this reason, most houses are in darkness after sunset. Every day women and children die of exhaustion, and the soldiers’ morale is very low. Only the officers are given meat.