ITALIANS DESPERATE

Grey River Argus, 19 December 1940, Page 6

ITALIANS DESPERATE

STAND ATTEMPTED Against the Greeks [British Official Wireless] RUGBY, December 17. tJ The slight advances which the '* Greeks in Albania have been making during the past few days are of the kind which have been taking place methodically during the recent, fighting, and in London the study of these operations, which engages the close attention of military experts, shows that the most skilful use has been made of the terrain. The operations have been conducted on plans ■ directed to the punching of points ol i resistance and th e forcing of retire-1 ments, rather than large-scale Iron- ■ tai attacks. There is nothing to in- f dicate that the Italians have everceased fighting, except when placed j in an iiv'nossibl e position. The Greek j advance has never been a parade After 50 Days REVIEW. OF ALBANIAN 1 FIGHTING . [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] j (Received December 18, 9.50 p-m? ■; LONDON, December 17. After fifty days of wr.r, Greek!, forces everywhere are maintaining i. the initiative. ; H Th e , Italians have launched court- . ter-attacks at points along the whole!. Albanian front. The Greeks, how-1 ever, not only broke up these, . occupied various small towns and i hilltops. , I The battle in the Tepelena region . is now passing through a particular- . ly fierce phase. The Italians are ■. making a last desperate effort, but thp Greeks are, holding to a number ( of most useful strategic points;. Several Italian units have been dis- ( persed in the Pogradec section, the importance of which is indicated bj the strength of reinforcements which both sides are now bringing up. Blizzard conditions have brought operations'in Devol! Valley pi’actic- 4 ally to a standstill. I “The Times” Athens correspondent' says: “Despite th e bad flying weather .. the Italians are forcing their aircraft > into action, in certain sectors, to I. maintain the ebbing morale of the ■. troops, but the results are negligib e. The general position is that the Itaiians everywhere are slowly but surely withdrawing. They have unsuc- '

cessfully endeavoured to protract operations until' the spring by transforming a war of movement to trench fighting.. > . . , The Modena division has been thrown in the fighting on the central , front. Another Alpine division nas, come up further to th e left. The iat- , ter has seven times vainly attempted to recapture Mount Skovovic. A Greek observer declares that. Italians leaders • subjected their men , to useless slaughter to justify a subsequent retreat, a similar fate suffered bv specially-chosen counterattacking forces in the Drynos River area, where th e Modena division ivtirecl after heavy losses, leaving two hundred prisoners, including a senior officer.

GREEK REPORT Advance on Klisura AND TEPELINI. 1 (Received Dec. 18, 11.20 p.m.) . ATHENS, December 17. The Greek War Ministry has issued a communique stating: Fires were observed at Klisura, on which Greek forces are advancing, and inflicting heavy losses under pressure Our troops are advancing towards 1 sura where fires were noticed. On other fronts fighting continues successfully. We captured many prisoners, among whom was one lieu-tenant-colonel, also much war material All fortified positions on both sides of Dinos River, descending to Tepelini are now held by Greeks. It&’/ans have tvithdrawn to new positions on heights on both sides of Tepelini. Greek planes blew up a large ammunition dump on the northern front, and killed a large number of Italians massed nearby. GREEKS HAMPERED by the cold .. (Received December 18, 9.30 p.m.) ATHENS, December 17Their shortage of blankets and woollens is seriously hampering the Greek troops. There is terrific cold. It has driven wild boars and wolves from the hills. Wounded soldiers are obliged to lie on stretchers on snowheaps for hours, covered with a single blanket. The Greek advance has been very fast, with no time to care -o*’ their wounded. ITALIAN REINFORCEMENTS BEST TROOPS GOING UP (Received December 18, 9.20 inm.) LONDON, December 18. The “Daily Telegraph’s’’ Athens correspondent says: The Italians are now making an increasing use of the elite troops. This is most significant. This skimming of the cream of the army represents living on capital in a military sense. It is calculated to lower the army’s morale. ■ ITALIANS COUNTER On the Coast > PORT PALERMO RECAPTURED (Received Dec. 18, 11.20 p.m.) LONDON, December 18. Indications that the Italians havf recaptured Port Palermo were giver when the Official Greek Spokesmar to-night denied that this port is now in Greek hands. He said: The Greek: again have the gulf of Port Paler m 0 under artillery fire. He referret to heavy Italian resistance on tin coastal sector. The Italian seventy-five guns an keeping the road to Argyrokastroi under continuous fire. Recent blizzards have thrown U] natural barriers on the north-west