ALBANIAN WARFARE

Grey River Argus, 11 February 1941, Page 5

ALBANIAN WARFARE

ITALIAN ATTACK Repulsed at Night [British Official Wireless] RUGBY, February 9. A Greek headquarters communique states: Local operations were restricted but a certain number of prisoners were captured. The Press Ministry at Athens stated: Th e Italians, seeing that their counter-attacks supported by tanks had not succeeded during th,? day, made a night attack, which was thrown back, leaving many dead. ISTANBUL, February 9.

The Greek Army is reported to be receiving large quantities of Italian war materials, captured in Libya. It is stated that, when the Italian retreat became a rout, British airmen were insructed to avoid bombing Italian munition dumps and stores.

Italian Losses

IN COUNTER ATTACK. WEATHER MAY PROTECT VALONA. (Received February 11, 12.35 a.m ) LONDON, February 10 An Athens communique stated • There have been restricted patrol and artillery activities. Some prisoners were taken. We shot down eight ’planes. All of our ’planes returned. It is revealed at Athens that fifteen thousand Black Shirt troops participated on Friday in a disastrous counter-attack in the central sector, and left a thousand dead on a mountainside. Greek troops have now resumed a push northward of Klisura, and captured new points of vantage Greeks further westward have attained objectives, inflicting the heaviest casualties, and capturing considerable arms.

The principal topic of conversation in Athens is Albanian weather. It is believed that this wi’ll form a main obstacle to a Greek advance to Valona, and not the resistance of the Italians, as torrential rains are normally lasting until March.

Six Air Raids

BY ITALIANS IN GREECE. (•Received February 10, 10.20 p.m.) ATHENS, February 10. Italian forces carried out air raids upon six areas on Sunday. Bombs that fell on Janina killed twenty. In bombing Salonika, the enemy killed and injured some civilians. A direct hit seriously damaged the Church of Saint Sophia, which is of great historic and artistic value. DAMAGE TO CATHEDRAL. (Received February 11, 12.30 a.m.) ATHENS, February 10 Italian bombing of a cathedral m Salonika yesterday afternoon aroused intense indignation in Greece. Three bombs hit the building, one penetrating a cupola dating from the fifteenth century. Ten fell in the cathedral courtyard and the surrounding streets. ATHENS, February 9. The Greek Admiralty , denies the Italian claims regarding Greek losses. It says that all the Greek destroyers are in excellent condition, also that not the slightest damage has been inflicted on the merchant navy in the Aegean and the Mediterranean. The Admiralty admits Italian bombardments of Corfu, but says that not the smallest objective was hit, for the reason that none exists. Th e only result has been a massacre of women and children. The Admiralty admits that there have been bombardments of the Albanian coasts, but says that these have been without results. Italian warships on one occasion hit Italian positions, “thus our troop s were able to capture them easily.”

THANKS TO N.Z. WELLINGTON, February 10. The British Minister at Athen~ has conveyed to Mr Fraser the following message from the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs: ‘‘The Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs asks me to express to you the heartfelt thanks of the Greek Government and the relations of the late General Metaxas for the condolences transmitted in your telegram on January 30.” ANTI-U.S.A. DEMONSTRATION. ROME, February 8. Italian students demonstrated against the United States to-day. They assembled outside the Piazza Venezia and shouted for Signor Mussolini, w’ho did not appear. Hie guard at the Unitet States Embassy has been strengthened.