ALBANIAN FIGHTING

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 December 1940, Page 8

ALBANIAN FIGHTING

ITALIAN RETREAT CONTINUED

TRANSPORT DIFFICULTIES

[BY LONDON, December 30. The latest, Greek coirimuniqUe. says that yesterday there' was restricted patrol and artillery activity. A Government spokesman, announced' tHatfhe.'Gr.e'eks Ijad captured three villages north; of Khiipara after storming dominating, them, The> Italians, ippludipgj who-were specially flown, in> were, heavily defeated north of Klisura, where the Italians used tanks in an attempt to drive, to, the Klisura-Berat road.

The-Ministry of Security- stated'that Italians retreating from Khimara took 10 prominent- Greek citizens as hostages; The Moscow army newspaper “Red Star” states that it is vital for Italy to hold on in Albania. It stated that Italy is having difficulty in transporting troops, and that this is hampering operations.

The “Times’s” Athens correspondent says: New successes, which Greek communiques modestly disclaim as “local operations,” have in the past two days placed Greeks in position of strategic importance liable to paralyse'the Italians’ plans, and to ruin the.ltalians’ chances of a counteroffensive for the regaining of the initiative. The Italians have been prevented from re-forming behind the stationary front. The Greeks now occupy over a quarter of Albania, and if weather permits’a similar rate of progress, they might conquer a further quarter before the end of January.

R.A.F. BOMB VALONA.

RUGBY, December 30.

The R.A.F. is giving Italy no respite in the Mediterranean theatres of war. Valona was attacked for the twentyfirst and twenty-second time by British bombers, states ah R.A.F. Middle East communique. It adds: During the first raid, bombs were seen to expode among transport and troops moving' on a road near the jetty, and a large warehouse was set on fire. Heavy anti-aircraft fire was experienced, and enemy fighters intercepted, resulting in an engagement lasting 15 minutes. One of our planes was shot down, and the - two members of the crew were seen to make . parachute descents. The second raid was carried out in bad weather, but direct hits were registered' on a road leading to the nqrth jetty. Buildings were hit, and a number of bombs were observed to burst between motor transport parks and military stores. Two cargo boats, a merchantman, and a cruiser were machine-gunned. On the return flight, a formation of enemy bombers was seen and fired at, but the enemy escaped in cloud cover, before the results were observed.

THANKS TO N.Z. GREEKS.

HOKITIKA, December 31

Mr. T. E. Y. Seddon, Greek Con-sul-General for New Zealand, has received the following cablegram: , “Received through the High Commissioner, £ 1834, amount of -collection by New Zealand Greeks, which I am forwarding to General Metaxas. Please convey to the subscribers my sincere congratulations for their generous patriotic donation. (Signed) Simopoulos, Greek Minister in London, December 21.” ■