CONQUEST OF ALBANIA COMPLETED

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 83, 10 April 1939, Page 7

CONQUEST OF ALBANIA COMPLETED

Resistance in South

TEMPORARY CABINET FORMED

Leading Citizens

HOMAGE TO MUSSOLINI

(By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright.) (Received April 10,10 a.m.) LONDON, April 9. Messages from Albania make it clear that, apart from incidental skirmishing, the conquest of Albania is completed. Elbasan, the last city to resist, has been occupied. Albanians are laying down their arms, and officers are reported to be offering to serve Italy. After hours without fresh news from Albania yesterday, a message from Rome announced that the Italians had entered Tirana at 8.30 a.m. (G.M.T.) The Tirana radio station broadcast the Italian national anthem, signifying that the occupation had been completed. Wireless, telegraph, and telephone services with Tirana were restored shortly after the arrival of the invaders. Armed bands which had continued resisting on the outside of the city are converging on Tirana and surrendering their arms. The Italians have entered Scutari, near the Yugoslav border. The Prefect of Koritza, near the Greek frontier, placed himself at the disposal of General Guzzoni, the Italian Commander-in-Chief. The Tirana correspondent of the British United Press says that an Italian motorised column occupied Argyrocastron. The Rome correspondent of the British United Press says that a temporary Cabinet consisting of leading Albanians which has been formed to administer Albanian affairs sent a message of homage to Signor Mussolini, welcoming the glorious Italian army and stating that they were hopefully awaiting the execution of Count Ciano's programme of order, prosperity, and justice. A message from Tirana states that the President of the Provisional Government circularised prefects and sub-prefects throughout the country appealing for obedience to the Italian troops and ordering that they should be received warmly and respectfully. Belgrade reports that 12,000 Albanians are strenuously resisting the Italian advance in southern Albania. A message from Tirana states that an Italian vessel arrived at Durazzo with food and clothing for distribution to the populace.