TAKING THE HEIGHTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 December 1940, Page 7

TAKING THE HEIGHTS

GREEK LATEST GAINS

THRUST TO ELBASAN

[BY CABLE —PRESS .J^SSN. —COPYRIGHT.]

LONDON, December 29. Advances by the Greeks in the noithern and coastal sectors are reported in messages from the front in Albania, in spite of the increasing strength of the Italian resistance. In the north the Greeks are making a fresh thrust towards the important base of Elbasan, and an unconfirmed report by the Belgrade newspaper “Politika” says that Lin, on the north-west shore of Lake Ochrida, has fallen. It says that the Greeks outflanked the town after heavy fighting in the snow. . An Athens spokesman 1 said that north and north-west of Khimara, on the Adriatic coast, Greek patrols had broken through, the defences and occupied important heights. East of the central sector many Italians had been captured, in addition to guns and materials. These operations were referred to in the latest Athens communique, which says: “Local operations continue successfully. More than 200 prisoners, including officers, were captured, together with many automatic arms and mortars.”

Earlier reports speak of a violent battle in the Klisura sector, at a point at which the Italians concentrated great forces to defend an important mountain pass, and of heavy fighting north of Klisura, where the Greeks threaten to cut the highway to Berat.

The Athens correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says the Greeks in the Klisur and Tepeleni sectors maintain a policy of jumping from hill to hill and refraining from entering towns till all the surrounding heights are cleared. The Greeks’ capture of five officers and 65 men belonging to five different units indicates .the chaos among the retreating Italians, whose units mingle pell-mell. Athens messages summarise . the 24 hours to Friday night as a day of continued Italian retreat north-east of Khomara and of further progress by the Greeks. From some heights which were captured—to which Greek artillery was dragged on improvised sledges through deep snow by men and mules —the Greeks are shelling the districts dominating the northern approaches to Tepeleni through the upper valley of the Viosa river. Further north, in spite of deep snow, the Greeks continued to drive back the Italians.

' Earlier messages stated that the Greeks were being assisted by detachments of Albanians under the noted rebel leader Bilial Tot.

VALONA BOMBED.

RUGBY, December 29. It is announced from the general headquarters of the British Air Force in Greece that, in southern Albania, shipping and military objectives on the foreshore at Valona were bombed successfully yesterday by R.A.F. aircraft, despite extremely bad weather. A heavy bomb was seen to burst approximately 50 yards from a large ship. Other results were not observed, owing to low cloud. All the bombs, however, fell in the target area. All the British aircraft returned.

ITALIAN CLAIMS

LONDON, December 29.

The Italians are reported to have dropped 200 bombs in Preveza, Greece’s nearest port to the Albanian front. There was no damage and no victims, although the harbour was filled with shipping. An Italian communique says: “On the Greek front, enemy attacks were repulsed and some prisoners were taken. Our bombers and fighters continued to attack troops, installations, and road junctions, and bombed the enemy naval base at Preveza. A direct hit was scored on a ship.”

AERIAL LOSSES

LONDON, Dec. 29.

A Royal Air Force spokesman in Athens said that 50 Italian aeroplanes had been destroyed since the Italian invasion and 16 had probably been destroyed. The Royal Air Force had lost eight bombers and four fighters. The Royal Air Force had carried out 70 raids in the worst flying conditions that had been experienced throughout Europe.

ITALIAN SEA LOSSES

THREE SHIPS TORPEDOED.

LONDON, December 29.

The Greek submarine Papanicolis has sunk three Italian supply ships in the Adriatic. She achieved this success last Tuesday. She was on patrol and saw 14 ships in convoy, escorted by destroyers, carrying troops and materials from Brindisi to Valona. The three ships sunk totalled between 25,000 and 30,000 tons. The destroyers attacked with depthcharges, but the Papanicolis escaped and returned to port. An Italian communique says: “One of our submarines operating in the Atlantic has not returned.”

THRILLING ADVENTURE.

(Recd. December 30, 1.30 p.m.) ATHENS, December 29.

The Greek submarine Papanicolis, which sank three Italian steamers, was accorded a tremendous welcome upon the arrival at her base, after amazing adventures. The vessel crept to the entrance of the Bay of Valona on December 25, and sighted a convoy of six ships, the largest being of 15,000 tons, escorted by six destroyers. The Papanicolis found itself inside the destroyers’ screen. She fired four torpedoes; and dived to 170 feet, as the crew heard explosions, indicating that three of the torpedoes had struck. Aircraft and destroyers raced from the shore rocking the Papanicolis with bombs and depth charges. Currents swept the submarine northwards. It came to the surface after five hours, but was unable to steer because of the currents, and found itself off the coast of Dalmatia. The submarine, later, submerged for 30 to 40 hours above Valona. It was hunted by planes throughout. Finally, the Papanicolis reached an lonian island and regained her base on December 26.

FLEET SHELTERING

LONDON, Dec. 29.

The main body of the Italian Fleet has been driven out of the southern Adriatic and has sheltered at Fiume and Pola in order to escape attacks by British bombers, according to Greek naval authorities. Only one Italian cruiser and several destroyers remained to cover the Italian rearguard action before the fall of Khimara.

GERMAN TROOP MOVEMENTS

LONDON, December 28.

The British Associated Press cor'respondent of Budapest says: It is learned that Germany has planned to Cross Bulgaria to Greece only in the event of Britain landing troops m an attempt' to use Greece as a starting point for an invasion of Central Europe. The movement of the German troops to Roumania is chiefly an insurance measure.

as BUDAPEST, December 29. The passage of German troops across Hungary continues. Troop trains passed through Budapest, yesterday, being the largest number cn any day so far.

RHODESIAN AID

LONDON, Dec. 29.

For the relief of Greek combatants and civilians, the Federated Rhodesian Hellenic communities - have raised £BOOO. The National War Fund of Southern Rhodesia has made a further grant of £5OO. Already £6500 has been sent to the Greek Prime Minister (General Metaxas).