GREEK STEAM ROLLER

Grey River Argus, 13 December 1940, Page 7

GREEK STEAM ROLLER

OPERATIONS SECRET New Stage in Campaign [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] ATHENS, December 11. Greek official circles, talking of the Greek steam-roller movement in southern Albania, are confident that the Italians can do nothing to prevent the Greeks from reaping the full benefits of the capture of Saranda, Delvino and Argyrokastron. Further north, the impetu s given to the Greek advance by the capture of Koritza and other points has admittedly come to an end. A veil of secrecy has been drawn over the operations, while much spade work is being done in preparation for the next stage of th e battle. The weather is increasingly bad, and the troops are ploughing their way through deep slush, their faces being stung by wind and sleet. > A delayed message from Argyrokastron reveal's that two Capronis and three Fiats were found wrecked at the aerodrome when the Greeks entered. The inhabitants say that the Italians experienced supply difficulties as a result of the bombing of Albanian ports. Th e . Greek Commander, in a speech from the balcony of th,. Town Hall, emphasised that the Greeks were fighting fo* th e liberty not only of Greece, but also of Albania. He asked the inhabitants to resume their norma! work, while th e army continued its job.

R.A.F. RAID VALONA RUGBY, December 11. British Air Force headquarters at’ Athens announced that R.A.F. bombers again raided Valonh. A ship in the harbour was hit, and other bombs fell among buildings, on a munitions dump and on a transport park. From all these operations all th e aircraft returned safely. Greek Report ADVANCE CONTINUED (Received December 12, 9.40 pm? ATHENS, December /12. A Greek night communique, dated Thursday, says: “Our advance continues in various directions, in spite of violent enemy reaction. Much booty and many prisoners have fallen into our hands ” Artillery Battle GREEKS SHELL TEPELENA (Received December 12, 9.10 p.m.) LONDON, December 12. Ther e is an extremely heavy artillery engagement near Tepelena. Greek forces are, reported to be shelling Tepelena from the village of Benca, which they captured after a two hours battle in which there were heavy Italian casualties. The Italians are suffering severely from frostbite, and prisoners report that hundreds of soldiers of the Alpine Division perished from cold. The snowfall i s mow general throughout Albania. Snow is several feet deep on the mountains. Some villages are barely recognisable or distinguishable. • These adverse conditions obviously are embarrassing the enemy. The Italians are endeavouring to drop food by parachutes to isolated units.

ITALIAN DESTROYER. TO BE USED BY GREEKS. [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Received December 13, 1.55 a.m.) LONDON, December 12. The British United Press Athens correspondent reports: The Greeks are recommissioning the Italian destroyer that was found half submerged at Saranda last week. A plaque has been placed on the captain’s bridge, and reads: “Presented to the Greek Navy by the R.A.F.” Greek Advance SLOWED DOWN ENEMY COUNTER ATTACK [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] • (Received December 12. 9.10 p.m.) LONDON. December 12 The Greek advance in Albania continues. but it is not proceeding rapidly. There has been only slight progress made! on the northern front. There is snow now falling. To the northward of Argyrokastron it is now uncertain whether the Greeks are in possession ;of Klisura. They hav e reached the valley of the Vojiuza River, which is a short distance westward of Klisure. Thev also cut a lateral road which follows the river valley, and connects twe almost parallel roads running northwestward to Valona and DurazzOj, The threatening nature of th e recent Greek advance in the Moscnpolye region suggests that th e report that the Italians have counter-attack-ed thereabouts is correct. But if the Greeks, as was previously stated, possess the chief heights, it will not be easy to dislodge them.

Thursday’s Fighting ITALIANS RETAKE' SOME POSITIONS (Received December 12, 9.10 p.mD LONDON, December 12 A message from Struga, in Yugoslavia, dated to-day (Thursday) says: “There has been heavy lighting all day to-day between Pogradec and Moscopolye “The Italians continually counterattacked in on e sector near Moscopolye. They have forced the Greeks to relinquish some unimportant positions for better ground. “Greeks ambushed a column -of Italian armoured motor-cycles near Lin, eleven cycles being captured." Fresh Tactical Move GREEKS CONTINUE PROGRESS. (Received December 13, 1.55 a.m.) LONDON, December 12. An Athens report says: The Greek forces are systematically pur-

suing methods which brought them earlier victories. There are continued signs that a fresh major tactical movement is developing. Another Athens message states that the Greeks captured an important new height in the Premeti area. They also repulsed heavy Italian counter-attacks. In these some of Italy’s best troops have been used. ITALIAN RESISTANCE. • INEFFECTIVE IN THE NORTH. (Received December 13, 1.55 a.m.) LONDON, December 12. According to reports from the outskirts of the battlefield,, the Italians have made a desperate effort to hold the Greeks in North Albania, but have failed. It is reported that Greek forces have advanced to positions in front of an important peak, and also a mile and a-quarter along the Lake Ohrideko coast road. Despite rivers and icy slush, ’ the Italians have moved up reinforcements in the Devoli sector, where there is now violent fighting. Italians are striving to prevent the Greeks from advancing.

ITALIAN ARMY REPORTED TO BE UISAFFECTED LONDON, December 11. Information confirming reports of serious disaffection in the Italian Army, and widespread civilian disaffection, have been received by the “Daily Telegraph’s” correspondent on the Italian frontier. The Italians fear German intervention, above all, and even prefer defeat by th e British and Greeks. Hatred of the Nazis is so strong and universal that Mussolini will risk his overthrow if. he calls them in. Besides their innate dislike of Germany, th e Italians, after the experience of Spain and the Balkans, realise that a German Victory would mean political __and economic vassalage, whereas a British victory, at the worst, would entail only the loss of some African territory. The Reverses on the Greco-Albanian frontier have' profoundly depressed the Italians, whose confidence has ajso heen severely shaken by the nava' losses at Taranto.

GERMAN GENERAL

REPORTED NEW COMMANDER LONDON. December 11. The British United Press correspondent on the German frontier savs that a German General, who participated in the Norwegian campaign, is going to Italy to command the operations in Albania Yugoslav Order FOREIGN .'CORRESPONDENTS TO LEAVE FRONTIER (Received December 13, 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, December 12. The Swiss radio reported that Yugoslavia has asked all of the foreign correspondents to leave the Albanian-Greek frontier district of Yugoslavia. ’ i INVALIDED SOLDIERS SYDNEY, December 12 Carrying about 40 Australian and New Zealand soldiers and Australian naval ratings from the Mediterranean area, the first Australian hospital ship to return since the war began has arrived at an Australian port. Most of the man aboard were able to walk about. There ar e some cot cases, some of the returning troops having been wounded. Others are returning for ordinary medical treatment. An Australian captain said the morale of the troops in Egypt was at its highest point.