ON ENTIRE FRONT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20431, 16 December 1940, Page 11

ON ENTIRE FRONT

GREEK ADVANCE ITALIANS WORN OUT SERIOUS BLOWS FELL TWO BASES IN DANGER VALONA AND TEPELENI (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Dec. 14, 2.30 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 13. The Greeks maintain the initiative ih all sectors and continue the advance along the entire front, although slowly in the central and northern 'sectors. The Greek forces in the south have accelerated their advance and now seriously menace Himara. The Italians are concentrating on the heights in front of Himara and have drafted in fresh troops to relieve the units which are worn out with the rapid retreat and relentless Greek attacks, but the Greeks quickly dealt serious blows to these troops, many of which have already been taken prisoner. A Greek column on the coast has joined up with a column which is pursuing the Italians from Argyrokastron, which'already is within two miles of Tepeleni. The two columns together occupied Borci, three miles from Porto Palermo. Thus the Greeks have full lateral communication from the coast to the region of Klisura. The Italians, therefore, face formidable forces on what possibly will be their last effective defehce positions before Yalona. The Daily Telegraph points out that it is difficult to see how Valona can be held if these defences fall, but the Italians already have begun the evacuation of Tepeleni after suffeiing heavy losses.