GREEK OFFENSIVE
BY LAND AND SEA. ITALIANS WIPED OUT. LONDON, March 13. The Greek Information Ministry announces that an enemy submarine which attacked a Greek convoy was destroyed. The Greek Army continues to have the support of the R.A.E., which has attacked enemy transport concentrations north of Tepelene, on the coastal front.
Three Italian divisions are reported to have been destroyed since the offensive began. Ten thousand casualties are said to have occurred. An earlier Press Association report said that a further series of Italian attacks and a Greek counter-attack resulted in complete success for the Greeks. The Italian forces were of greater strength than anything the Greeks have previously encountered, but the Greeks themselves have never before attacked with such a powerful concentration of forces, nor with such heavy artillery fire. To-night’s Greek communique states: “On the fourth day of his offensive action the enemy intensified his efforts, but all were repulsed with heiavy losses. Our forces, counter-at-tacking with the assistance of the air force, took 200 prisoners, including four officers.” Captured officers declare that Mussolini has set next Saturday as the “deadline” for his Generals to do something. The Greek Ministry of Marine states that an Italian plane attacked the clearly-marked hospital ship Socrates one mile to the south of Sessoul Island and near Lefkas Island. Three bombs fell 50 yards from the stern, slightly damaging the deck. An R.A.F. Middle East communique states that in Albania bomber formations supporting the operations of the Greek Army again bombed Italian troops and motor transport. The full results were not observed because of low clouds. COMPLETE FAILURE. Press reports state that the Italian offensive against the Greeks ended in complete failure, three Italian divisions being decimated. Since yesterday afternoon the enemy has attempted ho further assaults. During the six days fighting the Italian losses have included at least 2000 dead and 3500 prisoners, including 60 officers. Fifty, officers have been killed and over 250 wounded. Prisoners continue to assert that Mussolini has been at the front and is probably still somewhere in Albania trying to rally his army. Two days ago he was reported as being in the Tepelene area, where he lunched with General Rossi, divisional commander. GREAT "SLAUGHTER. ITALIAN LOSSES. (Rec. 12.15 p.m.) LONDON, March 13. News from all sectors indicates- that the great Italian offensive in Albania has been completely broken. General Oavallero apparently planned a series of counter-attacks which should have developed and extended into an offensive. The Blackshirts launched their attacks six days ago in close-packed waves in an effort to regain vital heights in the Tepelene neighbourhood; which the Greeks gained a week ago. The attacks faded out yesterday and were not renewed on the same scale to-day. No-man’s-land is littered with Italian dead. It is estimated that the Italian casualties are 2000 killed, 8000 wounded, and 3500 taken prisoner; 60 Italian officers are known to have been captured and over 80 killed and wounded. The Italian artillery preparation for the offensive failed seriously to affect the Greek lines, while wie Greek guns, on the contrary, caused heavy losses. The 11th Army proved unable, despite strenuous efforts, to hold its positions against the Greek troops, pressing forward with the battle cry: “To the sea!”
The Blackshirts pitilessly machinegunned a company of Italian soldiers who .looked like deserting and only ten reached the Greek lines.
The Rome communique does not mention the Italian offensive in the central sector, but claims that Greek attacks across the Voyusa River Valley were repulsed with heavy losses.
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Bibliographic details
Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 89, 14 March 1941, Page 5
Word Count
588GREEK OFFENSIVE Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 89, 14 March 1941, Page 5
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