LOCAL OPERATIONS BY GREEKS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 30 December 1940, Page 6

LOCAL OPERATIONS BY GREEKS

ALBANIANS ASSIST ARTILLERY DRAGGED THROUGH DEEP SNOW fßritish Official Wireless] RUGBY, 28th December, j Athens messages summarise the 24 hours to Friday night as a day iof continued Italian retreat northeast of Himara and of further proj gress by the Greeks, who captured ! prisoners. From some heights which they captured—Greek artillery hasbeen dragged on improvised sledg< % through the deep snow by men and mules —the Greeks are shelling the districts dominating the northern approaches to Tepelene through the upper vvallep of the River Vjosa. Farther north, despite the deep snow, the Greeks have continued to drive back the Italians. The Greeks are bern;, assisted by detachments of Albanians under the noted rebel leader Bilial Tot. One detachment cn the Greek right wing, attacking from the southwest, is reported to have forced the Italians, after a two hours and a half battle, to retreat across the River Harboli, over the only bridge in the vicinity. The War Ministry in Athens issued a communique which says: “Local operations continue successfully. More than 200 men, including officers have been taken prisoner, and many automatic arms and mortars captured.” GREEK PORT BOMBED A total of 200 Italian bombs are reported to have been dropped on Preveza, Greece's nearest port to the Albanian front. It is reported there was no damage and no victims, though the harbour was filled with shipping. A violent battle is raging in the Keleyra sector of Alabnia at a point where the Italians have concentrated great forces to defend an important mountain pass and also to the northward of Keleyra. whel’e the Greeks are threatening to cut the highway to Berat. The Greeks northward of Pogradec have captured new positions, taking prisoners and war materials. The Greeks are meeting with continued strong resistance in the coastal sector, and heavy artillery duels continue in the north. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Athens correspondent says that the Cireeks in the Keleyra and Tepelene sector maintained the policy of jumping from hill to hill, refraining from entering the towns till all the surrounding heights have been cleared. The Greek capture of five officers and 65 men belongr ing to five different units indicates chaos among the retreating Italians, whose units mingle pell mell.