GREEKS ON OFFENSIVE

Evening Star, Issue 23725, 5 November 1940, Page 7

GREEKS ON OFFENSIVE

UNDER-RATED BY ITALIANS DEFENCE TURNED INTO ATTACK FIGHTING WITH EXCEPTIONAL COURAGE Prets Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, November 4. (Received November 5, at 1 p.m.) The general impression that the Italian High Command greatly under-rated the magnitude of the task of invading Greece has been strengthened by the Greek communique and also by unofficial reports from Athens that the Greeks have taken the offensive in the southern sector in the past 48 hours, penetrating into Albanian territory at some points. Simultaneously, reports are reaching Belgrade from the frontier that the Greeks have captured Bechlista, just inside the Albanian frontier, and are now bombarding Korea from the commanding heights. According to the British United Press correspondent at Athens, the Greeks stormed two positions on Mount Pissoderi, overlooking Korea, and held on despite a desperate Italian attempt to dislodge them, in which planes dropped about 550 bombs on the mountain. The Greeks are also reported to have advanced a further half-mile along the main road to Korea, supported by light tanks and planes. The Associated Press correspondent at Belgrade quotes a report that Greek artillery fire caused the closing of the highway between Yugoslavia and Korea. Other sources declare that a Greek ferce under the noted guerrilla leader Varda cut the communications of the Italian army threatening Janina. the Athens correspondent of * The Times ’ says the operations in the week-end clearly demonstrate that the Greeks are fighting with exceptional courage. Adequate British air support is greatly needed in order to convert the Italian land and air pressure to a wholesale enemy retreat. The ‘ Daily Telegraph’s ’ Belgrade correspondent says many Albanians are deserting across the Yugoslav frontier. From Rome the Stefani Agency’s war correspondent reports that bad weather and Greek rearguards* dynamiting of roads have caused an absence of the “ lightning rhythm ” in the Italian advance. TURKISH PRECAUTIONS MORE MEN GALLED UP SOFIA. November 4. (Received November 5. at 1 p.m.) Turkey is reported to have called up additional men from 20 classes.

BOMBING OF ATHENS

BRITISH CIVILIANS KILLED SINKING OF ITALIAN WARSHIP REPORTED LONDON, November 4. (Received November 5, at 11.25 a.m.) The arrival of the “ Australian ” destroyer Wryneck is officially announced at Athens. A Greek communique states that an Italian lieutenant-colonel was killed during the fighting on Sunday. British civilians are reported to have been killed in yesterday’s raids on Athens. The British Consulate was singled out for attack. It is reported from Ohrid that the Greeks sank an Italian warship after a battle lasting an hour. A Salonika message, describing the air raid, says the Jewish quarters were the main targets, in which there was no military objective. Scarcely a street in the old quarters of the town, in which thousands of Spanish Jews were living, is undamaged. CHARTERED GREEK SHIPS AGREEMENT WITH JAPAN TOKIO, November 4. (Received November 5, at 9.35 a.m.) The Foreign Office announced that Japan and Greece had agreed that the voyage of dozens of Greek ships, to Japan should be continued. They are chartered by Japanese firms, and Japan assured Greece that there would be no difficulty about the ships leaving Japanese ports after unloading their cargoes. * RED CRDSS AID BfiiTISH ORGANISATION'S OFFER (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 4. (Received November 5, at 11 a.m.) Telegrams have been sent by the British Red Cross to the British Minister at Athens and the Red Cross Commissioner in the Middle East stating that all its resources are being placed at the disposal of the Greek Red Cross. ITALIAN PLAN OF CAMPAIGN EARLY BOASTS NOW SOFT-PEDALLED LONDON, November 4. The ‘ Daily Telegraph’s ’ Athens correspondent says certain clear linos are beginning to emerge from the GrecoItalian campaign. First, the Italian movements are apparently directed against the extreme north and extreme south of the line of the northern objective, Janina. Three roads converge from the frontier on Janina, of which the second runs from Argyrokast.ro up

Drinos Valley and across the Kalamas river. The Italians apparently made an effort on the first day to take the Kalamas crossings in their stride. This, combined with a half-hearted attempt to land on Corfu, was unsuccessful. It is noteworthy that early Italian boasts of a break through with mechanised units in the direction of Fiorina are now completely softpedalled. Far from the Italians making appreciable progress in this region the Greeks are now established three and a-half and possibly six miles within Albania, firmly pressing the Italians’ northern (lank. It is reported from Athens that the Greeks daringly crossed Lake Prcsba under cover of darkness, landed on the Albanian shore, set fire to important oil dumps in tho village of Pustek, and returned safely. ITALIAN CLAIMS BRIEF COMMUNIQUE LONDON, November 4. (Received November 5, at 12.30 p.m.) An Italian communique states: “The Italians renewed the raids against Salonika, Corfu, and Navarino. The R.A.F. bombed Garnugrane. north-east of Jarabub. Two are dead and several wounded. We occupied Mount Shashib. near Kassala, with losses to both sides. The enemy bombed Assab. Three are dead and several wounded.