GREEK OFFENSIVE

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 February 1941, Page 7

GREEK OFFENSIVE

NOTABLE GAINS REPORTED ENEMY CASUALTIES HEAVY [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN.—COPYRIGHT.]

LONDON, February 16.

With all the objectives of the first and second days attained, the Greeks are now in. the third day of a big offensive, along the entire front in Albania.

The Greek Press Ministry, confirming that all the objectives of the first and second days had been attained, said that a fresh, important success could be expected soon. The. offensive was being pushed on with the utmost vigour and the enemy was retreating along the whole front, particularly in the central area. The Italians were suffering tremendous losses. One contingent of 1000 was reduced to 180 in one day. One of the most notable advances is between Tepelene and Kilsura. Reuter’s correspondent at the front says that although Tepelene is still Italian, the Greek advance has left it an open town some six miles behind the Greek lines. The latest Athens communique states: “In successful local operations we dislodged the enemy from strongly organised positions. We took much material and 300 prisoners, including many officers. Our aeroplanes, without loss, successfully bombed battle fields. The Italians bombed rural districts in Crete, without causing damage.” The Athens radio announced that the Greeks had achieved decisive results at three points. At the first point they captured 700 prisoners, including many officers and a particularly heavy bag of war materials. Elsewhere they pushed back the Italians and captured more prisoners and materials.

The Greeks hold the initiative from the northern front to the Adriatic. They stemmed many counter-attacks with disastrous results to the Italians. The Greeks captured mountain heights in one area in spite of severe gunfire and the Italians fled in utter confusion before bayonet charges, leaving many dead and wounded. Italian resistance is . weakening, even at points previously stubbornly defended.

An earlier statement by the Greek Ministry read over the Athens radio said: “Events on the Albanian front are now entering a phase of rapid developments. From the very end of the northern front down to the Adriatic, the Greeks are on the initiative and are pushing forward with great vigour now that the Italian counterattacks have been stemmed. Mountain heights climbed by the Italians to be impregnable have been captured. After a severe artillery pounding, Greek infantry launched a bayonet attack supported by aircraft. They dislodged the enemy and drove them down in utter confusion.” The Official Greek News Agency, commenting on reports of German diplomatic pressure to end the war, said: “Greece is negotiating with nobody. The war against Italy is-being fought to the end.”

COUNTER-ATTACKS FAIL

RUGBY, February 16.

According to Agency messages from Athens, the spokesman stated, on Saturday evening: An offensive was launched at certain points on the front with the object of dislodging the enemy from strong positions. It was completely successful, the Italian troops being unable to withstand the dashing assaults delivered by the Greeks.

At other points, attempted Italian counter-attacks met with no success, in spite of considerable strength being employed. The Italians suffered heavy casualties in these attempts, and at one place about 100 prisoners were captured, consisting mostly of Alpine troops, who recently arrived from Italy. These prisoners, the spokesman stated, confirmed that heavy losses were sustained by the Italians in the course of about 50 attacks, made at the orders of the latest Italian Commander-in-Chief, General Cavallero.