FRESH TACTICS IN ALBANIA

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 119, 13 February 1941, Page 7

FRESH TACTICS IN ALBANIA

Change On Both Sides

PLANS FOR DEFENCE OF VALONA

(Bv Telegraph. — Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Received February 12, 9.30 p.m.)

LONDON, February 11

The Athens correspondent of “The Times” says that both sides iu Albania appear to be developing new tactics. The Italians have suddenly begun to display an unwonted taste for night operations, while the Greeks are reviving their tactics of the early days of the war.

Prisoners assert that the Italians are hastily constructing fresh defences to the south-east of Berat, leading southward and then westward to the coast to the north of Himara. This is evidently the line on which the enemy is intending to make a desperate resistance for the defence of Valona. Prisoners also declare that the Italians have lost more men in the last fortnight than during Hie rest of the campaign. Details received from Athens show that Greek planes bombed the Italian lines and supply bases while fighters engaged enemy formations. One Italian plane was brought, down behind the Greek front line, and two bombers were shot down in Hie Jannina region and one of the pilots captured. All the Greek aircraft returned to their bases.

Greek forces on the northern front, after a sharp engagement, captured high commanding positions and dispersed the Italians with severe losses.

An R.A.F. communique says that buildings at Tepelene and Dukati were set on fire by bombs dropped by R.A.F. bombers. A large enemy bomber formation composed of Breda 20’s and S79’s escorted by 20 CR42’s, attempted te attack Jannina yesterday. They were intercepted by a formation of R.A.F. fighters which shot down one Breda 20 and one 579, and damaged several others.

Jt is now confirmed that as a result of the air engagement in the Keleyra area yesterday three further enemy aircraft were destroyed. All the British aircraft returned.