WEATHER BAD

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 107, 1 November 1940, Page 7

WEATHER BAD

ROADS BECOME STREAMS

ITALIANS HAMPERED

BY SNOW

by Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright.)

(Received November 1, noon.)

LONDON, October 31

The Italians, who are hampered by snowfalls in Macedonia, continued to pound the Greek positions along the front with artillery today, but they are apparently confining their main drive to the coastal region. Both sides are bombing and machine'gunning the opposing communications from the air.

The Italian newspaper "Lavora Fascista" claims that the Italians have crossed the Kalamas River, and adds that the Greeks are resisting at some places, but generally are falling back to their main lines and attempting to block the Italians' communications.

The Greek authorities claim that the Italians have nowhere advanced more than six miles and nowhere made contact with the main Greek "defences.

It is estimated that Greece has 400,000 men fully mobilised. Trains are hastening to the front with thousands of khaki-clad troops. Many Greek units have already achieved outstanding offensive successes. Three companies held up a whole division of Italian alpine troops for many hours. A Greek platoon in another sector routed two Italian companies, which abandoned much of their equipment. As reinforcements arrive the Italians' numerical superiority will disappear. The Greeks are confident that they will be able, with the help of winter and the mountains, to withstand the Italians, despite their better anna-

Greek reports indicate that the Italians have not begun a serious drive owards Salonika, The Italians have ;oncentrated large forces in the region d Korea, in readiness for such a thrust, but have not achieved any significant advance. The Italians similarly have not attempted to traverse the gap in the middle of the front which leads to difficult country. Their main thrust is therefore along the coastal belt, but even here, according to the Stefani news agency, the weather is most unfavourable. Weeks of rain has transformed the roads into streams and the plains into swamps. It is stated authoritatively in London that the- Italian advance from Hobispol is the strongest point of their attack. The fighting in that area seems to be an affair of outposts. The Greek defensive line has not yet been reached. There is no information as to landings of British troops.

The Rome correspondent of the British United Press says that a dispatch from Agyrokastron states that the bad weather has broken and light Italian units, advancing under a violent artillery barrage, have opened up a big attack.

A message from Athens says that Greek forces, counter-attacking north of Janina, are reported to have retaken a hill.from the Italians, and also a considerable amount of equipment. Greek bombers attacked the Italian supply line.

A communique issued in Athens states:—"Our forces ori the Epirus front halted various enemy columns and maintained their positions all day on October 30 after a withdrawal by advanced sections, according to prearranged plans. Bands of irregular troops co-operated with the enemy. The remainder of the front is calm. The enemy, besides indiscriminately bombing and machinegunning the town of Patras, bombed Rhion and Naupactus, one person being killed and five wounded."

The Italians again bombed Patras and also Naupactus, nine persons being killed and two buildings destroyed.

Fifty Italian war prisoners arrived at Salonika.

The Greek High Command has ordered the front-line positions to be held at all costs, and that no attempt is to be made to follow up local successes.

The Italians in one sector were caught in a trap of machine-gun nests, which mowed them down, whereon the