ENEMY DISLODGED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 300, 18 November 1940, Page 7

ENEMY DISLODGED

STUBBORN GREEK ATTACKS MAJOR BATTLE PROBABLE. (United Press Association —Copyright.) LONDON, Nov. 16. The Athens radio states that the Italians have been dislodg-ed from all positions. Their organised defences are unlikely to withstand the Greek attacks for long. The Times Athens correspondent states that a major battle appears to be developing on the entire length of the front, on fourfifths of which the Greeks are fighting on enemy soil. The Italians are retiring in orderly fashion from the Epirus sector in view of an encircling movement from the central sector. The Greeks arc developing two pushes in the Korea (Koritza) region. Korea can now receive supplies only bv a partly-finished military road along tiie Devoli River from Elbasan. Ihe Greeks occupied positions commanding Liaskovik and also reoccupied Delvinaki in their push toward Argyrokastron. . . This thrust seriously threatens the flank 'of , the Italians in the Kalamas River sector. The Italians arc retiring from the positions which they occupied in the first four days of the war. This southern drh*e is important because the route toward Argyrokastron and Valona is not fortified, though the terrain is most difficult. The Italians are moving up to the front troops from all parts of Albania, including those from the l ugoslav borders, because they are apparently unable to maintain drafts of troops through their battered ports. STRATEGIC GAIN.

The Greeks captured at the bayonet point a great part of Mount Ivan,, a 6000 ft peak north-east of Korea which it dominates. The Greeks took ten Italian largo calibre guns. Korea is very important not only because it is the largest - town in south Albania, with a population of 30,000, hut because it is also a centre of communications. Its capture would offer the Greeks an entrance to the route to Elbasan, the strategic centre of Albania.

The Greeks are reported to be smashing into the "Italian army west of Lake Presba, at the junction of Albania, Yugoslavia, and Greece. Military officials declare that the Greek moves threaten to cut the Italians in Albania in three parts. The Italians are reported to have set fire to Korea.

An Athens communique says: “Battles occurred all day in the Epirus region and the mountains east of Korea. We captured many prisoners, cannon, trench mortars, and all kinds of material. The- retiring Italians left hall of Korea in flames. The Italians bombed towns and villages offering no military interest, but there were no casualties. The Greeks in the. battles raging on all fronts are using more than 150,000 troops.” ITALIANS THRUST BACK.

The Greeks yesterday continued the initiative on all fronts, principally with local actions. They are reported to have thrust back the Italians to the frontier and are now on Albanian soil in tbe central sector, with their artillery dominating the Italian supply lines. The Greeks intensively shelled Korea, killing 23 and wounding 70. The Greeks have withdrawn their outposts in the most northerly sectors to new mountain strongholds. No fighting occurred during the withdrawal, which' iii some parts was for a distance of ten miles. British and Greek planes have continued the attempt to put out of action Valona and Durres for the purpose of facilitating the isolation of the Italians in Albania. Bombs are reported to have killed 15 and wounded six at Valona, and killed one and wounded six at Durres, where an Italian ship was hit. Fifteen Italian bombers raided tho lonian coast, killing three and wounding ten at Parga, and killing four and wounding 13 at Preveza. They also bombed other points in the Gulfs of Arta and Patras. BRITISH STRATEGY.

The Daily Telegraph’s correspondent states that the bombing of Taranto fits iu with the British plan for the isolation of the Dodecanese, where conditions are desperate and the garrison believes an attack imminent. Exiles from the Dodecanese have received permission from the Greek Government for a legion to fight for the liberation of the islands. Recruits are enrolling enthusiastically. An' Athens communique states that two of their machines have not returned. The enemy bombed towns and villages in the interior indiscriminately. R.A.E. headquarters in Greece state that British aircraft successiully bombed and machine-gunned a moving Italian motor transport column northward of Korea, causing great damage and inflicting many % casualties. They also destroyed a iarmhouso which was being as army headquarters. They also destroyed an important bridge over which Italian reinforcements were moving, killing a large number. An R.A.E. pilot who attacked troops and transports on the move in the Ivoritza region stated on his return, according to an agency message from Athens: “We dived at them from about 20,000 ft and released our bombs dead over the column, which was pretty tightly packed. The Italians ifere running like hares, then we hit a bridge fair and square, completely wrecking it. The Italian reinforcements who had been using it suffered heavily. Altogether it was a most successful day.” According to a Greek communique issued in Athens on Friday, lively artillery and aerial activity continues at all points. “Our airmen, ’ it added, “bombed enemy elements ill action. In aerial combats our aviators brought down three enemy planes.” All Germans in Greece are reporting to their consular offices. About 500 Germans are believed to have lett Athens in the last two days. J he Daily Mail says it may portend coming events that the entire German colony in Salonika? numbering 150, has returned to Germany.