GREEK ADVANCE UNCHECKED

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 81, 30 December 1940, Page 7

GREEK ADVANCE UNCHECKED

Albanians Help ITALIANS FORCED BACK Battle Around Keleyra (British Official Wireless.) (Received December 29, 7.15 p.m.) RUGBY, December 28. Athens messages summarize the 24 hours to Friday night as*p. day of continued Italian retreat northeast of Himara and of further progress by the Greeks, who captured prisoners. From some heights which they captured —Greek artillery has been dragged on improvised sledges through the deep snow by men and mules—the Greeks are shelling the districts dominating the northern approaches to Tepclene through the upper valley of the River Vjosa. Farther north, despite the deep snow, the Greeks have continued to ! drive back the Italians.

The Greeks are being assisted by detachments of Albanians under tlie noted rebel leader Bilial Tor. One detachment on the Greek right wing, attacking from tlie south-west, is reported to have forced tlie Italians, after a two hours and a half battle, to retreat across the River Harboli, over the only bridge in the vicinity. The War Ministry in Athens issued a communique which says: “Local operations continue successfully. More than 200 men. including officers, have been taken prisoner, and many, automatic arms and mortars captured. Greek Port Bombed. A total of 200 Italian bombs are reported to have been dropped on Preveza, Greece’s nearest, port to the Albanian front. It is reported there was no damage and no victims, though the harbour was filled with shipping. A violent battle is raging in the Kelevra sector of Albania at a point where the Italians have concentrated great'forces to defend an important mountain pass and also to the northward of Keleyra. where the Greeks are threatening to cut the highway to Berat. Tlie Greeks northward of Pogradec have captured new positions, taking prisoners and war materials. The Greeks are meeting with continued strong resistance in the coastal sector, and heavy artillery duels continue in the north. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Athens correspondent says that the Greeks in the Keleyra and Tepelene sector maintained the policy of jumping from hili to hill, refraining from entering the towns till all the surrounding heights have been cleared. The Greek capture of five officers and 65 men belonging to five different units indicates chaos among the retreating Italians, whose units mingle pell moil. Steady Progress. (British official Wireless.) RUGBY, December 27. Steady progress in the Greek operations in Albania is recorded in a Greek communique, whicli states: "Local operations have been crowned with success, and have enabled our troops to advance and occupy enemy positions. Prisoners were captured and a considerable quantity of material fell into our hands."

A communique issued by the British Air Force in Greece states that warehouses, buildings, and railway lines at a village south of Valona were bombed by the R.A.F. yesterday. All rhe bombs fell in the target area. Nine enemy lighters intercepted the British formation, and a ten minutes’ engagement resulted. From all the operations all the R.A.F. machines returned safely.

For the past fortnight or more the Italian resistance has been particularly strong in northern Albania, but it now appears that the Greeks have made a strong, fresh thrust toward the head of the road which leads from Lake Oehrida to the vital key town of Elbasan in the centre of the country. The Greek central advance is also directed at Elbasan, and is apparently following the line of the Devol Valley. In both areas the weather continues to be severe and is hampering transport, but though transport difficulties retard the Greek movements they have not stopped the advance.