UNABLE TO STOP GREEKS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 126, 21 February 1941, Page 7

UNABLE TO STOP GREEKS

Desperate Italian Attempts BIG FORCES ENGAGED

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received February 20. 8.30 p.m.)

LUN DUN. February 19

In addition to capturing four or five elevated positions, the Greeks again repulsed Black Shirts and other picked Italian units who were desperately attempting to stem the Greek advance in the central sector.

It is estimated that approximately half of Italy’s fighting force is participating in the Albanian operations.

Italian night assaults in the coastal sector were broken before the troops reached the Greek lines. The Greeks advanced farther to the east. They repulsed two counter-attacks and drove back the attackers beyond their original lines.

The Italians on the northern front launched an offensive on a wider scale than usual, but were heavily repulsed. It is learnt that General Cavallcro has ordered that the Italian positions must be held at all costs, but in spite of that the Italians have been forced back with heavy losses.

One agency message says that the Italians tire trying to stiffen their resistance in one sector with reinforcements brought by air from Brindisi. Other Italian reserves; including two special battalions and three Black Shirt units, have been thrown into this vital sector. The latest Greek communique states:

“Successful operations resulted in the enemy being dislodged from some positions and suffering heavy losses. About 3000 prisoners were taken and quantities of automatic arms and mortars fell into our hands. Greek aircraft successfully bombed objectives in the front, line. All returned to their bases.”

British Air Headquarters in Greece slates that during the past two days the R.A.F. has maintained concentrated attacks on the enemy positions in the Tepelene area in support of the Greek forces. On Monday enemy troops concentrations and military camps in the villages of Kamashisht ami Dames, north of Tepelene, and motor transport and military buildings at Beshisht and Kautsisti, were heavily bombed, but full observation of the results was impossible. Several offensive fighter patrols were also carried out. Yesterday. despite unfavourable weather, military’ targets in the area south-west of 'Tepelene were .successfully raided. The area was covered by low cloud, but the aircraft dived through and carried out low-level attacks. and direct hits were scored on enemy’ troop concentrations and a motor transport column on the roads. All the aircraft returned safely.