The Greek Armies

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 9, 11 January 1941, Page 9

The Greek Armies

TOWN OF KLISURA FAT LS

LONDON, January 10. The Greeks are today celebrating* yet another striking" victory in Albania. The capture of Klisura has been officially announced. Bells are ringing in Athens and the streets are full of cheering people. King- George of Greece and General Metaxas, the Prime Minister, stood together on the steps of general headquarters in Athens and were loudly acclaimed by; the crowd.

By the capture of Klisura (sometimes known as Kelcyra), the Greeks have achieved their main objective in the central sector of the front since the fall of Argyrokastron. The town is 30 miles north of Argyrokastron, and the advance towards it has called for the capture of innumerable Italian strong points on the peaks of the mountains among which it lies. This hard task, which was made doubly difficult by bitter weather, has now been successfully completed, and General Metaxas said it was understood that not only the town of Klisura but also the important, mountain pass had been taken.

The Italians are said to be in disorderly retreat, and the victorious Greeks have already passed beyond Klisura and along the road to Berat.

The capture of Klisura is particularly important because the town is at the junction of two roads, one leading to the inland town of Berat and the other to the Italian supply port of Valona^ The defence of Tepeleni, about 10 miles west of Klisura, is now rendered extremely difficult, as the Italian left flank is exposed.

It was stated in London today that the Greeks have also made a slight advance elsewhere along the front and taken 300 prisoners on a six-mile front south of the River Usum. This is

about 10 to 15 miles north-east. of Klisura.

Details of the fighting which led to the capture of Klisura show that the Greeks followed their usual tactics of capturing important positions commanding their objective from which they were able to employ artillery with telling effect.

The latest figures issued in Rome today give the Italian casualties in December at 1301 killed, 3052 missing, and 4598 wounded.

An unconfirmed report from Yugoslavia says that another Italian supply ship laden with war material has been sunk in the Adriatic.