ALBANIAN FRONTS FREEZING

Grey River Argus, 18 December 1940, Page 5

ALBANIAN FRONTS FREEZING

OBJECT OF ARMIES iTo Get Best Winter Positions [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Received December 17, 7.45 p.m.) LONDON, December 16. Greek forces are still advancing on the northern front, but it is at a snail’s place. This is because of had weather. Both sides are now endeavouring to occupy the best possible conditions before the winter conditions immobilise the _arm’,es. North-westward of Pograd'ec Greek troops have reached the village of Vrepcka, and captured two hundred prisoners. An Italian officer and an N.C.O. were killed, and another was seriously wounded when a time-bomb .exploded in a building housing the Italian command at Tirana Albanians are most dissatisfied with the Italians for requisitioning cattle in exchange for paper money which is considered valueless. Albanians crossing to Yugoslavia declared that the Italians were interning prominent Albanians to prevent organised revolt.

The latest Greek communique gives no details of the advance, but the general impression in Athens is that the operations have completely outmanoeuvred the Italians.

Press messages *from Athens describe the present operations as “very imoortant,” and that on the centre front towards Tepelena important positions have been occupied. According to press messages from Greece, much snow has fallen on the northern front, and 1 at points lies five to six feet deep. From information reaching London, it would appear that the capture bv Greeks of Tepeleni is imminent. This small town is on the road to Valona, protected by a strongly fortified line between it and Kelcyre. which the Greeks are reported to be outflanking. It is officially stated that no enemy air raid was reported from the interior of Greece to-day. ■ ’An Italian general, a colonel and other officers were k lled in the battle in which the Greeks captured n height on the southern front. The Greeks are violently pressing the offensive on .all fronts, taking considerable booty and many prrsoners. The Italians are flinging in reinforcements, without organisation. Hard fighting is raging around Himara, Klisura and Tepelena, on the southern and coastal front, and north-west of Pogradetz on the northern front.

Th e “Daily Telegraph’s” correspondent with the Greek forces t says: “The Greeks ar e making steady progress, and the ultimate result is not in doubt.” However, the Greeks face a formidable task in driving the Italians out of Albania. The correspondent urges prompt release oi supplies, particularly blankets and boots, of which there is a serious shortage. To-day, the Greek army is better equippel with munitions than at .the begjnnmg of ths war, partly as a result of supplies ?rorn Britain, and part’y- as a result ,of seizure of huge stocks 'which fleeing Italians have abandoned. Greeks captured numerous tanks, which are of such poor quality that it is possible to use them only to lake the place of armoured reconnaissance cars. Even so, they are useful, as the Greeks had no such vehicles when th e war began. GREEKS PREPARING FOR BRUNT OF FIGHTING (Received December 17, 8.15 p m.) ATHENS, December. 16. Addressing a workers’ conference at Piraeus, General Metaxas, Greek Premier, declared: “Against an enemy possessing vast resources,-we are supported by British friends and Allies who, however;. are engaged on many other fronts. But even if the greater part of fighting on the Balkan front consequently falls on us, Greece W’R conquer.”

Bitter Weather in South

GREEKS REPORTED AT TEPELENA [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Received December 17, 7.45 p.m.’ LONDON, December IG. In bitter weather and in the face of a stiffening Italian resistance, Greeks methodically continue to push back Italian forces in Albania. Reports reaching th B \Yugoslav frontier declare that Greek troops have entered Tepelena after bayonet fighting. The Italians withdrew their main troops from Klisura. A Greek column is reported to have advanced further along the Valona road, taking th e village of Zemblan. Tne capture of Himara by Greeks to-day followed hand-to-hand fighting in a village, also a major battle on surrounding heights. Th ft Italians lost throe hundred men, besides field-guns and tanks

A Homeric struggle has been waged beyond Permeti during th e lasi few days. It assumed particular severity yesterday, when .the battle developed on a wide front. Greeks most gallantly assaulted stronglywired fortified positions. When retiring, the Italians' blew up some bridges, whereupon Greek stretcherbearers swam a r.ver, carrying wounded from the- advanced zone, ITALIAN REINFORCEMENTS GO BY ROUNDABOUT ROUTES (Received December 17, 7.45_p.m.’ LONDON, December "leThe “Daily Express’’ Athens correspondent says: R.A.F. pmnes caused damage at Valona and Durazzo so extensive that the Italians are making little use of thes P ports, but they are trying to send their reinforcements and supplies to Albania by small craft, which can enter the bays and coves along the coast at night t’me. Lighters, barges, coasters and fishing are being used, instead of transports or cargo vessels. This makes it much longer to move, the troops and stores, but the Italians must pay this price to elude R.A.F planes even temporarily, LATEST GREEK REPORT (Received December 18, 1.55 p.m.) LONDON. December I’l An Athens communique stated:

“There have been local operations, limited in extent, at different parts of the front on Monday. All were executed successfully, resulting in a partial advance of our lines.”

Epirus People's Stand

GREEK ARCHBISHOP'S TRIBUTE [Per Press Association] WELLINGTON, December 17. Archbishop Timotheos Evangelinidis, Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Church fpr Australia ana AllOceans, interviewed on arrival for his annual visit to this country, paid a tribute to th e stand made bv inhabitants of Epirus when th n invasion began. He said that by zeal, energy and fortitude, they laid a foundation for successes the Grenks had since achieved. He expressed a feeling of pride at the gallant performance of his countrymen against the Italians, and at the way Greek? throughout the world rallied to their country’s cause. When an Italian invasion commenced and one division of Greek troops withdrew gradually from th e frontier while the mobilisation took place, the people of Epirus set a shining example. They threw in their lot with the soldiers, and such was their contribution that th? Italians received an early set-bar k. Men and women, old and young, and even children, yoked themselves together and pulled up mountains ammunition,, food and other materials required. They even rolled rods down mountain slopes to check the Italians. There was no doubt the loyalty of these people saved the situation at th e beginning of the eam■paign and inspired the Greek nation. ARCHBISHOP’S THANKS ARGYROKASTRON, December 16. “Thank God we are preserve’,” said Monsignor Spyridion, Archbishop of Janina, at the celebration of Solemn Mass. He then broke down in tears. Recovering, he added: “The Greek people, laden with a difficult burden, are proving the superiority of spirit over brutal force. God bless the sling of David.”