AFTER A MONTH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 3 December 1940, Page 5

AFTER A MONTH

GREEK-ITALIAN WAR COUNTER-ATTACK ROLLS BACK INVASION BRILLIANT GENERALSHIP [British Official Wireless] Received 3rd Dec., 1 1.30 a.m. RUGBY, 2nd December. The Greek-Italian war has been raging a month. Reviewing the events of the campaign authoritative military commentators point out as the most striking feature that the war which began with an unprovoked invasion now becomes an effective counter-attack carried out in Albania even on the coastal sector. There are now no Italian troops in Greece oti*c-r than those as prisoners. Originally the Greek plan must have been purely defensive, with the object of protecting Salonika and the fact that in the northern sector the Greek counter-offensive has been most effective testifies to the brilliance of the Greek generalship. Informed military commentators Emphasise the importance of the capture of Koritza. The Italian offensive was pressed forward less thoroughly in the northern sector than elsewhere. It is considered that a further advance in the central sector would lead the Greeks into open and relatively flat country where the Italian modern mechanised troops could operate with advantage. RETREAT NEVER A ROUT Military circles discount stories that the Italians lack fighting power. The fact that prisoners were captured by the hundred, not by the thousand, is considered to indicate that the retreat though rapid never became a rout and comment is made that it is only when the Italians are surrounded that they surrender.

On the other hand it is considered that the Italian troops have been sacrificed to political needs and let down by bad organisation and planning. The Greeks have turned this to very good account and the conduct of the Greek Army which had to fight every bit of the way has been distinguished by the brilliance of the High Command and the skill, determination, courage and power of the ranks.