Daily Assaulting Italian Positions

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 3, 4 January 1941, Page 5

Daily Assaulting Italian Positions

Rome Admits Heavy Fighting Near Bardia BRITISH CAPTURE HEIGHTS United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyrlgli t. Received Friday, 8.30 p.m. ROME, Jan. 2. A Stefani News Agency dispatch Tram the Cyrenaica frontier reveals that since December 24 the British have been daily assaulting the Italian position in the vicinity of Jarabub. The British gained the heights north of the oasis near the outpost of Garet Barud. However, the Agency affirms that Italian counterattacks succeeded in holding the British assaults. Italians Prepare Last Stand NEW FORTIFIED LINE IN CENTRAL ALBANIA LONDON. Jan. 2. li is reported from Athens that the Italians for several days have been cmstrncting a new line of fortified positions across Central Albania, indicating that the Italians real V-e the necessity for a last desperate resistance should Valona, Tepelene and Kelcyra fall. The new line begins northward of Valona and rtns across the Tomor mountains, eastward of Berat, thence to the eastward of Elbasan and thence to the Yugoslav frontier. The Italians have been persistently outmanoeuvred by the Greeks, but the iweather does not allow scope fer ••blitzkrieg” movements. Fierce en • counters occurred in the past few days along th« heights commanding Lake Ochrida and on the Pogradec-Elbasan road. One hundred and fifty Italians rear Lake Ochrida surrendered because they were unable to stand the cold. At the cost of heavy losses, the Italians have so far prevented the Greeks from penetrating to Prenje, on the Lin-Elbasan road, which would mean isolation for the Italians in the Lin region. A Reutfer dispatch says that fierce en* counters are still going on along the shore of Lake Ochrida and the Greeks are concentrating on the capture of the village of Lin. Neither side at present holds the village. Greek advance elements entered it a day or two ago, but later were withdrawn. Progress is difficult because of the Intense cold and deep snow. Moreover, the Italians are still holding some important high positions, but they dc not seem to be confident about retaining them and much of their equipment is being withdrawn toward Elbasan.