GAINS PRESSED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20452, 13 January 1941, Page 5

GAINS PRESSED

DRIVE RY GREEKS WAY TO ELBASAN KLISURA FOLLOW-UP YIELDING ITALIANS PRISONERS AND BOOTY COUNTERS REPULSED (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed, Jan. 13, 10 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 12. The Greek radio to-day stated that the coastal successes of the Greeks continue and the advance west of Moscopolye continued. All of the Italian attacks in the Fogradec sector had been repulsed. Reports from the Albania frontier stated that the Greeks had advanced in the Shkumba valley towards Elbasan, taking strategic points at Garvani, west of Kukush. A Greek communique of yesterday reported small-scale local mopping-up operations, in which 100 prisoners and much material were captured.

It was stated in Athens yesterday that the Greeks had occupied a mountain spur between Klisura and Tepeleni, which opened up the way to further successes.

A Struga message of yesterday stated that the Greeks were reported to have repulsed three attacks » by Italian motorised forces near Dukati. The Greeks are believed to have taken Trepeli, 17 miles to the north-west-ward of Klisura. German Bombers Arrive

Six German bombers were reported to have arrived at Tirana from Italy and to have been sent to the Elbasan front. Greek planes yesterday flew over roads, bombing and machinegunning the retreating enemy, who abandoned a large number of fullyloaded lorries.

A communique issued in Athens yesterday stated that when Klisura was captured by the Greeks on Friday it was found empty. The town had been' sacked and burned and about 500 prisoners, including 20 officers, were captured and material of all kinds was also taken. A war standard, four guns, some tanks and a number of mortars, and a quantity of automatic rifles were included in the material which fell into the hands of the Greeks.

The fall of Klisura, the news of which was received throughout Greece with wild enthusiasm, is possibly the most important victory since the outbreak of the Albanian war. It means the collapse of the main Italian resistance between Permeti and Valona and the fall of Tepeleni can be expected at an early date, giving the Greeks a commanding position in continuance of the operations towards Valona and Berat and after Berat Elbasan. Weather Aids Italians

The battle lasted since the fall of Permeti on December 4, but the weather has been the Italians’ ally The Greeks pushed on vigorously from Permeti and succeeded in preventing the Italians reforming on the 20-mile front from Permeti northward.

A series of rapid encircling movements forced repeated Italian withdrawals. Finally the Greeks captured the Italians’ centre with the entire artillery, which was immediately turned on the Italians. The Greeks took Frasheri and forced back the Italians on a convex line round Klisura. Then the weather changed, turning streams into raging torrents, after which the operations were frequently halted in mid-action. Blizzards reduced visibility to a few yards and snow lay 4ft. deep. The Klisura operation is one which will live in the annals of Greece and certainly will compromise future Italian chances to turn fortunes in Albania.