ITALIAN TACTICS HELP GREEKS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 110, 3 February 1941, Page 7

ITALIAN TACTICS HELP GREEKS

Boomerang Effects Of CounterAttacks IMPORTANT ENEMY DEFENCE LINES OCCUPIED (Britisb Official Wireless.) (Received February 2, 7.5 p.m.) RUGBY, February 1. According to agency messages from Athens the recent Italian counter-attacks on the Albanian front were not only a disastrous failure in themselves but have greatly facilitated the difficult Greek enterprise of capturing strategic mountain defence positions modestly referred to as “important points of terrain” in the last news communique. An agency message points out that these positions in fact consisted of lines which were first begun by the Albanian army during King Zog’s reign and were organized by the Italians into a strong defensive system by installing permanent batteries, machine-gun nests, trenches and triple-barbed wire. A Greek communique states: “During yesterday encounters of our troops with the enemy were crowned with success in the fighting on the mountain heights. At some points ground of great importance which was in enemy hands was taken and nearly 150 prisoners were captured. At another point efforts by the enemy to attack with tanks were smashed before they developed.’ An official commentator in Athens said the Greeks now held a new coastal sector. The Italians were pushed back and sustained such losses that they retired in confusion and were unable to reform their lines. The commentator added that new mountain heights had been captured at Audila. Further north the Greeks had smashed the Italian resistance and inflicted heavy losses. They occupied further mountain heights there, too.

The Press gives prominence that the Italians have withdrawn RUGBY, January 31. Little success seems to be attending the efforts of General Cavallero to stem the Greek pressure in Albania and it has been officially intimated in Athens that during Wednesday and Thursday the Italians staged four attacks on one part of, the front, all being repulsed. At another point rhe Italians attempted to infiltrate the Greek lines, but were thrown back by a barrage. The Greek communique on Thursday night states: “Local operations have been crowned with success. Several enemy positions have been occupied. About 200 prisoners, of whom seven were officers, have been captured.” News of the fall of Tepelene is expected soon. Military experts in Athens confirm reports that the Italians are withdrawing in this area. Reports which have not yet been confirmed have spread along the front that the Italians have already evacuated Tepelene to Valona. The Greeks recall that 20 years ago the Italians surrendered here to the Albanians, and a few weeks later Valona fell. The Greeks have already outflanked the Tepelene-Valona road, but it is pointed out that the weather and land mines do not make the advance to Valona easy. Italian counter-attacks on the re-

:o persistent but unconfirmed reports from Tepelene.

inainder of the front were repulsed. The heaviest counter-attacks were launched 'between Kelcyra and Bera t , but here the Italians suffered severely. The Athens correspondent of the British United Press says the Italians are withdrawing to Valona from Kelcyra. The Italian losses, including prisoners, as the result of General Cavallero’s series of counter-attacks are estimated to exceed 7000.

SURPRISE ATTACK

Successful R.A.F. Raid On Italian Camp ' (Received February 2, 9.30 p.m.) ATHENS, February 1. A communique states that the R.A.F. successfully attacked important military cainp buildings to the south-west of Telepene yesterday. The enemy was taken completely by surprise. Considerable damage was caused, all the bombs falling in the target area. Direct hits set fire to a large building. Enemy troops emerging from their tents were machine-gunned from a low level and the casualties must have been heavy. All the planes returned-