ALBANIAN REBELLION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 218, 13 August 1940, Page 7

ALBANIAN REBELLION.

CONSCRIPTION RESENTED. TRIBAL LEADERS DEFIANT. LONDON, Aug. 12. The Belgrade correspondent of the Daily Express says that as Italy, in the name of Albanian nationalism, began a hate campaign against Greece, demanding the liberation of a (30-mile zone of Greek territory, a revolt against Italy flared up in Albania. The Mriditi tribe rebelled when the Italians tried to force them to join the army. Italian officers are reported to have been shot while requisitioning Albanian food and cattle. The Daily Mail's Athens correspondent says the revolts in Albania began on August 9 and are spreading. The leaders of the Kurveles tribe notified the Italians that they would reiuse to supply foodstuffs and would disobey the mobilisation orders, they deniaiKled the release of Albanians imprisoned in Tirana (the capital). Many Albanians have been imprisoned for distributing leaflets urging young men to flee to the woods and escape being forced into a war “against the liberators of small nations.” The Italian authorities are said to have sent thousands of troops to quell the revolt. Before action was taken two Italian officers offered to negotiate an agreement. They were killed, and in revenue the Italians burnt three villages. In the fighting which occurred the Italians are said to have suftered 100 casualties, including seven officers and a lieutenant-colonel.

A message from Rome yesterday denied reports of the revolts, stigmatising them as “British propaganda. According to a Daveutry broadcast to-day 400 Italians are said to have been ' killed in the revolt, wlueh is Tprt-.iding. •