Earlier Messages

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 61, 12 March 1941, Page 7

Earlier Messages

ITALIANS SUFFER VERY HEAVY LOSSES HIGH FASCISTS DEAD LONDON, March 10. Successfully continuing the great battle begun on the central sector last Friday, the Greeks have captured one Italian position after another. The enemy losses have been extremely heavy, especially smong commissioned officers.

The Greek Press Ministry, further describing Saturday's fighting, states that the Greek offensive continued in the central sector from morning till evening, the dash and spirit of the Greek troops being beyond eulogy.

The offensive in this sector was launched in three regions. In the course of the first assault, the Greeks occupied a rocky position where the enemy had been installed for a month. The Italians did everything to defend it, but towards midday gave up. During their fight, they suffered heavy losses from automatic rifle, artillery, and mortar fire. The Italian commander sent an urgent message for reinforcements.

In the afternoon, the Italians launched consecutive counter-attacks in an attempt to retake the lost positions. All were repulsed. The enemy retired to other positions, abandoning a number of dead and wounded.

In another region in this sector, combats continued all day and resulted In the Greeks occupying extremely strong-ly-fortified enemy positions. The Italians suffered heavy losses in killed and wounded in being driven from their positions, in which the Greeks are now well installed.

The Seventh Battalion of Blackshirts was wiped out and its commanding officer taken prisoner.

Prisoners state that, when another officer who was an intimate friend of Musolini was killed, a desperate fight was waged around the body until the Gieeks finally drove off the Italians.

Documents found in this officer’s pockets included a letter from II Duce exhorting his friend to do his utmost to prevent a Greek advance. “Otherwise Fascism will die under the scourge,* the letter added. “Do everything, replace everyone, but do not let the Greeks advance another step. Save Fascist Italy.’’

Unconfirmed reports state that this officer was Bottai.