KEY TO SOUTH ALBANIA

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 112, 5 February 1941, Page 9

KEY TO SOUTH ALBANIA

Now In Greek Hands CHANCE FOR WIDESCALE ACTION Strategic Range Taken LONDON. February 4. In Albania new advances by the Greeks have given them control of a nine-mile long range with peaks rising to 6000 feet which dominates the road from Kelcyra and Valona to Berat. This range is described as the strategic key to the whole of southern Albania, and its capture has opened up the opportunity lor Greek action on a wide scale. I lie last Italian resistance in this area has been overcome without difficulty. The Italians have been very subdued since the failure of their coun-ter-offensive and the only big effort has been to take heights beyond Kelcyra. This was repulsed after 12 successive "“attacks. Last night’s Greek communique merely mentions restricted activity by patrol's and Artillery, but according to an official statement issued in Athens, these operations have brought new successes along the central front. Continuous shelling is being maintained by heavy guns dragged up to dominating points on the recently captured range. Local Greek surprise attacks in heavy rain in various sectors resulted in the capture of new positions without a shot being fired. It is reported from Struga that the 'Greeks have reached the shores of Valona Bay. A message from Athens states that Italian dead, wounded, and prisoners in the past three days are estimated at almost half a division. A correspondent says that since the failure of their counter-offensive last week the Italians have attacked always in small groups. He adds that an order found on the body of tin Italian.officer shows that Mussolini is offering a reward to the men who make these sorties.