GREEK THRUST ON COAST

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 113, 6 February 1941, Page 7

GREEK THRUST ON COAST

Advance Toward Valona ENEMY RETREAT FROM TEPELENE LIKELY LONDON, February 5. The latest message from Athens on the fighting in Albania says that Greek troops north of Himara are now pressing on to Valona, the recent successful nibbling tactics and an improvement in the weather having paved the way for the advance.

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) LONDON, February 4.

Fog and snow have reduced visibility to nil in the central ■sector, near Tepelene, where the object of the Italian resistance appears to be simply to facilitate the movement of troops retiring from the Trebesina heights, which run approximately 10 miles north-west from the Tepelene-Kelcyra road, and also the withdrawal from the western defiles in the Kelcyra region. Notwithstanding the bad visibility, the Greeks penetrated the Italian lines, destroyed telephone cables and brought back prisoners and machine-guns. The Greek Press Ministry stated that big fires at Tepelene indicate that the Italians are destroying stores and preparing to evacuate the town. The successful action of the Greek forces is unabated, in spite of very bad weather. In the coastal area, beyond Himara, the Greeks, after a determined assault, occupied a high mountain pass which the Italians had converted into a powerful stronghold. The Italians obviously intended to use this position as a base for mechanized counter-attacks and even undertook considerable road building, but all their plans were upset. The Greeks used the enemy’s road to bring them closer to victory. Greek artillery beyond Kelcyra is hammering at the Italian positions. Fierce artillery exchanges are also proceeding in the Pogradec region. The Athens correspondent of “The Times” says that Italian counter-at-tacks are now certain to encounter far greater difficulties, thanks to the big improvement in the Greek positions. The enemy command has used all itsavailable prestige to impress the troops with the importance of the recent counter-attacks. ’ Even Count Ciano. according to prisoner’s statements, assisted General Cavallero in arranging dispositions. It is revealed that two battalions of fanatical Black Shirts who recently arrived from Italy, defended the “Zog line” defences, which the Greeks penetrated, resulting in the capture of SOO prisoners.