ITALIAN ATTACKS

Grey River Argus, 16 January 1941, Page 5

ITALIAN ATTACKS

IN ALBANIA Repulsed by Greeks 'Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Received January 15, 11.40 p.m.) ATHENS January 15. The Greek Government spokesman said: “Italian forces withdrew in disorder after the failure of two local counter-attacks which they made. They abandoned a number of dead and wounded after their first attack. They suffered more heavily in the second attack, in which they lost four tanks. Three of these tanks the Greeks immediately turned against the enemy. Greek machine-guns shot down an Italian plane.

KLISURA SECTOR. LONDON, January 14. One correspondent describes the advance from. Klisura as one of the biggest Greek offensives of the war. Rain during the week turned the road on which the Italians are retreating into mud, and now fresh snow has fallen on the mud. A violent surprise attack by Greeks in the central sector dislodged Italians from strongly defended positions. Much war material of all kinds was captured. Greek patrols have taken great batches of prisoners as well as wounded left behind in Klisura region. fighting is in a deluge of rain, and in some places the Greeks and Italians are so close that Italian bombers dare not interfere.

Greeks’ Success REASON GIVES BY “TIMES” CORRESPONDENT (Received January 16. 1.20 a.m ) LONDON, January 15. “The Times” Athens correspondent says: “Now that the battle for Kli-> sura is ended, it is possibly to examine reports of commanding officers from which it appears that the Greeks’ success was largely due *° superior phv'ica l condition ov the part of the Greek soldiers compared with the Italians, or rather because of a lack of courage on the part of the Italians, or, even better, because of th P Greek tactics. Italians elint’ to vallevs for advance or retreat. Greeks through prodigious endurance are able to scale hills up which Hal ians are unable to go, let alone take guns. It has been' common to find Greek ho’ding nositions that were reachable onlv after an hour's climb unencumbered by equipment. Un these mountains Greeks attacked and then brought un guns, often at slow speed. Another outstanding conclusion after the battle of Klisura is that the Greeks, apparently, disproved Napoleon’s remark thai> an army marches on its stomach ’Tb*’ Greeks seem io march on leaving their stomachs behind trusting to transport to brine them un r few davs later. This m?i’r" that during battle, the men ar P living on six ounces of bread daily.”

Italians Still Retreat WHERE NEW COMMANDER STAND? (Received January 16, I.2E> a.m.) LONDON January 15. The Greek radio reported that noncombatants were evacuating,- Valontx and Berat. and that Greek forces were still mopping up round the Kli-sura-Tepelena line. The Italians apparently were still in full retreat. It stated it is not clear where General Cavallero intends t.o make a stand for defence at Berat, which is situated at the most important crossroads in Albania.

BRITISH AIR RAIDS. LONDON, January 14. The R.A.F. reports:—Military concentrations at Barati, in Albania, were bombed by our aircraft, yesterday. Bombs fell in the target area, and although full observation of the results was not possible owing to weather conditions, it is believed that direct hits were registered. Smoke was seen rising from the bridgehead in the south end of the town, when our aircraft, all of which returned safely, left the target.