Greeks Gain Important Success

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

Greeks Gain Important Success

Large-sale Fighting for Valona DESPERATE ATTEMPT TO STEM ADVANCE United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Received Friday, 7.30 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 2. The Greek radio states that the Greeks on Thursday occupied ‘ ‘ a very important Italian fortress.” The Announcement did not specify the name of the locality but added that “almost all the heights between Klisura and Tepelena are in our nands.” Large-scale fighting is in progress north of Himara. The Greek forces are advancing toward Valona. Italian prisoners admit that the new troops arriving from Italy seem to be most discouraged as they believe the war has been lost for them in Albania. The Greek Government spokesman said in the Klisura sector the Italian defence line prepared before the war had been pierced at many points. The line, which the Italians considered impregnable, is now considered useless as the Greeks threatened the remaining enemy posts. According to reports from the front, the Italians are fighting desperately in an endeavour to slow down the Greeks to win time in which to prepare what may be the final and most important defence line northward of Valona, making possible a heavy stand to defend the last two-thirds of Albania. Precarious Italian Hold on Abyssinia LONDON, Jan. 2. In East Africa, Italy’s hold is growing just ns precarious as in other sectors, and the increasing opposition from the Abyssinians is shown in the posthumous award of two gold medals to Italian officers. One is for bravery in operations against "overwhelming rebel forces" and the other for bravery in an action against a "strong rebel detachment.” Greek Submarine Sinks Another Ship Received Friday, 9.30 p.m. BELGRADE, Jan. 3. A Greek submarine sank an unidentified vessel off the Yugoslav coast. The crew were drowned. German Planes to Help Italy MUSSOLINI’S UNITS TO BE WITHDRAWN FROM CHANNEL ROME, Jan. 2. On the occasion of the arrival in Italy of some sections of the German Air Force, the Under-Secretary for Air, General Dricolo, has published an order of the day stating that a German contingent will participate in the air and naval struggle in the Mediterranean. Italian planes from the English Channel coast, stated to number several hundreds, are returning and in future will be used against Greece, also in the Western Desert.

General Pricolo added that the German planes will probably be in action, especially against British shipping In the Mediterranean, although they are likely to participate in rttacks against Greece and Egypt. One group ol Italian chasers will remain on the Channel coast.

General Pricolo's order-of-the-day reveals that only veteran German air units can be sent to Italy. "They must be considered as a large Italian unit,” he says.

General Kesserling, of Germany, has sent a letter to the Italian air commander, General Fougier, praising the bravery of the Italian pilots in the bombardment of England. Ketserllng also announced that the "Alderschild” decoration had been conferred on all members of the Italian Air Corps participating in flights over England.

Up to December 26 Italy has lost 416 planes in the air as well as a considerable number destroyed on the ground. Against this, Britain has lost 75 planes, with some of the pilots safe. Since the offensive opened i.. the Western Desert Italy’s losses amoun o 200 machines, against the R.A.F. loss of 20, but several pilots of the latter are safe.