ITALIANS IN FULL FLIGHT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 30 November 1940, Page 7

ITALIANS IN FULL FLIGHT

GREEK ARMIES' CONTINUED ADVANCE Reports of Bitter Local Engagements ENEMY RETIRING UP ADRIATIC COAST [United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] (Received 30th November, 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, 28th November. The Associated Press of Great Britain says that the remnants of the Italian southern armies to-night are reported to be in full flight up the Adriatic coast after a great Greek victory. A “regiment of death,” composed of selected Fascists, the cream of the Italian army, resisted stubbornly in an unrelenting battle which was continuous day and night for four days. The Greek armies on the left wing are continuing their successful operations on a considerable scale. The British United Press reports that the Greeks took Argyrokastron in the afternoon after two hours shelling and a ninety-minute hand-to-hand street battle, after wh‘ch the Italians retreated toward Tepelene. The Italians had left 2000 troops to defend the town but a Greek motorised force advanced upon it and the Greeks forced their way into the town an hour later, despite most determined opposition. A large part of the town is destroyed and it is believed that there are 300 people dead under the ruins.

Five Blenheims and three Lysanders joined in a battle over the town with ten Italian bombers, shooting down three. On 2 Blenheim made a forced landing. The Associated Press correspondent states that British and Greek fighters shot down seven, probably eight, Italian bombers in half an hour. One British plane was lost, but the pilot is believed to be safe. While the Greeks are consolidating their gains to avoid isolation of their most advanced units, the British and Greek air forces are taking over the captured bases, halving the distance for raids against Valona and other ports, and intensifying their onslaughts against the Italian armies. A spokesman in Athens said: “Thanks to the R A.F. Italian reinforcements are unable to reach their destination.” GREEKS’ PROGRESS The Greek advance on the southern front continues with bitter local engagements. The Greeks in the Argyrokastron area continue to thrust methodically from height to height, bewildering the Italians by their plodding thoroughness. Three thousand Italians are now surrounded in this sector. The Greeks have also made substantial progress in the north. Violent battles are raging, but the Greeks are advancing from Pogradec, despite opposition stiffened by reinforcements. The Greeks are blasting the Italians from their trenches with Italian grenades, thousands of which were abandoned along the Elbasan road. Advances from Ersek and west of Koritza threaten the Italian positions on the upper Devoli and Vojiuza river. Four hundred Italians in the central sector surrendered to 15 Greeks. After nn Italian lieutenant was killed, an Italian capital, waving a white flag, advanced to the Greeks wth a whole battalion, which surrendered. The Greek night communique claims new successes in local fighting, in which aeroplanes participated, several enemy machines being shot down. Enemy destroyers shelled the north coast of Corfu and withdrew under cover of a smokescreen when British seaplanes appeared. “The Times” Athens correspondent says the Greek advance has been so rapid that commercial aircraft are being used to carry rations to the forward troops. The Athens radio announced that Marshal Badoglio had assummed command of the Italian operations against Greece. Two important raids were reported, in last night’s Cairo communique, one on Valona, an important supply base for the Italians, and the other on the retreating Italian troops 15 miles inland from Valona.

FACTORS IN GREEK SUCCESSES

AIR POWER AND ABILITY IN HAND-TO-HAND FIGHTING LONDON, 29th November. The latest reports from Greece tell the same story of the Greeks’ steady advance and the attempts of the Italians to collect their straggling forces for a stand. Correspondents who have gone to Albania report that the Greek successes are due to two main factors. One is the power of the Allied air forces. The Italian air force has lately been more in evidence, and the latest Greek communique says that a considerable number of enemy planes were shot down yesterday. One report says that eight Italian bombers which made an appearance were all shot down. The Allied air forces are now using the advance air fields constructed by the Italians in Albania. The second factor has been the ability of the Greeks in hand-to-hand fighting. Several reports speak of the brilliant bayonet attacks of the famous kilted Greek troops which are now facing the Italian “battalion of death.” The Rome wireless has indignantly denied that Marshal Badoglio has gone to Tirana to direct operations in Albania.

UNFORTIFIED CORFU

SCENE OF FASCIST ARMS’ ONLY TRIUMPH (Received 30th November, 10.30 a.m.) CHICAGO, 29th November. Leyland Stone in a copyright article in the “Daily News” written from Corfu says that this completely unfortified city was the scene of the only tri-

umph for Fascist arms against Greece for 22 of the last 27 days. The Italians carried out merciless air raids on Corfu, and it is impossible not to conclude following the policy of unrestrained terrorism that Corfu is the barest, blackest and most unspeakable moment for Mussolini and for Fascism that Fascism has created in its 20 years’ existence.