ITALIANS HARD PRESSED

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 December 1940, Page 9

ITALIANS HARD PRESSED

IMPORTANT HEIGHTS LOST I MAIN BODY IN RETREAT GREEKS HOLD S. ALBANIA

[BY CABLE. —PRESS ASSN.—COPYRIGHT.]

LONDON, December 4. Greek forces are now only a mile from the Italian naval base of Santi and the Italians holding Argyrbkastron have been placed in a desperate position by the Greek capture of two important heights dominating the town from the east. The Greeks now control the whole of the southern end of Albania between Argyrokastron and Santi Quaranta. After making a stand north of Pogradetz, the Italians are again retreating. It is revealed that two Greek cav? alry companies drove an entire battalion from heights of the utmost strategic importance, and as a result the main body of the Italians was forced to evacuate positions affording excellent possibilities for defence. The Athens correspondent of “The Times” says that the main Italian forces on the northern front will henceforth be able to do little more than fieht rearguard actions until they

are installed in the next defence line, 50 miles beyond the present positions. Considerable hard plodding confronts the Greeks if they attempt to gain this line, but the intervening struggle, according to the present outlook, is unlikely to consist of more than methodical thrusts and mopping up. If the Greeks are successful they will undoubtedly be able to give an imposing list of captured villages. Late dispatches received from Athens emphasise that bad weather is preventing major operations on the northern front, although there have been heavy artillery duels. The Greeks are advancing slowly north of Pogradetz along the road past Lake Ochrida and have reached a point just beyond Mumuniste. Greek advance posts in some places are within 100 yards of the Italians. The most marked Italian retreat on Monday was in the southern sector, where the enemy withdrew 7 to the Delvino heights. Italian and Greek infantry yesterday fought a pitched battle in the marshes. The Greeks

surprised the Italians at dawn by attacking across bogs which the Ital- | ians considered it impossible to i cross. The Greeks are now twice as | far into Albania as the Italians ever ' penetrated into Greece. Near the Vojiuza river on Monday, j the Greeks, fighting with unbounded | courage, captured a height in the Pol- | itsani mountains, where the Italians I possessed strongly defended posi- | tions. Greek pressure was also ac- < centuated in the Permeti region. | A vigorous Italian counter-attack ■ between the villages of Theri and Pes- ; tuna, south-west of Pogradetz, was smashed by the Greeks. : An Athens message states that Ital- ; ian soldiers continue to enter Jugo- I slavia, where tfyey are interned.

ITALIAN HARDSHIPS •LONDON, December 3. Agency messages to-night state that the Italians are in retreat in Albania, in both the north and south sectors. They are making a gradual retirement to Elbasan, and are being constantly harassed by the Greeks. The advancing Greeks are pressing so hard behind the Italians that in many camps half-eaten meals are found. Italian prisoners report illness in their ranks, and snow, to which many are not accustomed, is increasing their misery. In the central sector, Italian coun-ter-attacks were smashed with great loss. Along the northern and southern portions of the front the Greek advance continues to be rapid, and one report states that the Greeks have captured heights round Argyrokastron. It is also reported that the Italian supply lines from Durazzo to Argyrokastron are being shelled by Greek artillery. Italian dead are reaching considable numbers and special squads are being detailed to bury them.

GREEK FURTHER PROGRESS LONDON, December 4. Announcing that the Greeks arc within a mile and a-quarter of Saranda, the Athens radio said: Our forces pursued the enemy without losing contact. The importance of this advance is particularly evident when it is remembered that the enemy launched the initial attack by mechanised troops on low-lying ground bordering the coast and succeeded in driving our troops back twenty miles. The Italians are now defeated on their own ground. Bitter fighting continues in the snow and mud, sometimes on, mountain peaks 5000 feet over the battlefields. The Italian army is rolling back, the two flanks being battered on the centre front, where the Greeks captured two important heights overlooking Argyrokastron from the east. o The Greeks occupied strategic heights north-westwards of Moscopolye, after fierce hand-to-hand fighting. An Athens night communique states: In the Pogradetz region we captured new heights. Our troops also progressed on the remainder of the front. Our bombers attacked enemy columns and depots, starting big fires. Two enemy fighters were brought, down.

RESISTANCE COLLAPSING. (Recd. December 5, 11.20 a.m.) LONDON, December 4. It is reported, without confirmation, from Athens, that the Italian resistance is collapsing at Argyrokastron and the nearby Port Edda. The Greeks dominate all the strategic heights on the front from the sea to Lake Ouridsko. AERIAL RAID VICTIMS. LONDON, December 4. .The Athens radio, commenting on the air raid casualty totals, stated: We are encouraged and sustained to bear the ordeal of modern totalitarian warfare, by the proud and magnificent example of London and her sister cities. Corfu is the hardest hit among the defenceless. This beautiful old place has been severely damaged, because there, Fascist vandalism can be carried out with comparative safety. The famous fortifications,

whereof the Italians talk so much, were installed in the fifteenth century, and now only serve as refuges for hundreds of homeless, huddling in the vaults. We hope to capture the Italian air-bases in Albania. The arrival is more eagerly awaited of British planes to end Corfu’s agony. The latest communique from the Greek Ministry of Public Security mentions three further raids on civilian populations, the majority of the bomb victims being women and infants. It is officially stated that Italian air-raids on undefended Greek towns and villages in the first month of the war killed 604 civilians and injured 1070. BRITISH SHOOT DOWN SIX. RUGBY, December 4. It is confirmed that, in addition to the two aircraft destroyed by R.A.F. fighters and bombers in Albania, on Monday, two other enemy aircraft were destroyed. • In the Permeti area, British fighters intercepted and shot down two enemy reconnaisseurs.

I ITALIAN EXPLANATION RUGBY, December 3. The Rome radio excuses the humiliation of the Italian arms by the tiny Greek nation in an official statement that Italy was not prepared for a large-scale invasion of Greece, in addition to which Italy was greatly outnumbered, while the rains came a fortnight earlier than was expected. It was wisely decided by the Italian High Command that the forces on the Greek frontier should retire in the face of Greek numerical superiority until such time as the Italian Army could be heavily reinforced. The Greek offensive into Albania had now almost spent itself and very soon Italian superiority in numbers and equipment would have to be faced by the Greeks. Italy so far had only mobilised 1,000,1000 men of the 10,000,000 on whom she ■could call. : Official circles in Rome now agree I that Germany will not come to Italy’s | aid, because Italy does not need Geri many’s help and has never needed it. | . ITALIAN CLAIMS. I (Recd. Dec. 5, 11.35 a.m.). ' LONDON, November 4. ! An Italian communique states: The Italians in Greece resisted attacks from numerous formations of Greeks, which renewed their attacks after considerable artillery preparation. We carried out violent bombings of the Greeks’ positions. An enemy cruiser shelled the Italian installation at Alula, and caused some damage.

GREEK NAVY LONDON, December 4. Admiral Cunningham has written to the Greek navy paying a Tribute to the skill of their officers and seamen, since the outbreak, especia'ly mentioning the successful operations of Greek destroyers and submarines in regions against much superior forces. "We are proud to collaborate with the Royal Hellenic Navy,” he wrote. MUSSOLINI BLAMED. '(Recd. December 5, 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, December 4. According to the Greek radio, the Italians were so frightened before embarkation that they were informed they were going to Corfu, which they were led to believe the Italian Navy had captured. They suddenly found themselves in the midst of the battle.

A captured Italian priest stated: “The war is due to the thoughtless action of Mussolini. We see the result in our capture. The Pope ordered us to pray for peace, but unfortunately, his advice was not heeded. Our division embarked from Brindisi, for Corfu. I do not know why it changed direction to Albania.”

YOUNG RECRUITS. (Recd. December 5, 11.40 a.m.) ROME, December -L Italians of the 1922 class, comprising 150,000, have been called to the colours. LABOURERS REPATRIATED. (Recd. December 5, 11.20 a.m.) ROME, December 4. It is officially stated that 30 trains are repatriating, before Christmas, over 50,000 Italian agricultural labourers, from Germany.