RISING IN ALBANIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17497, 15 June 1920, Page 5

RISING IN ALBANIA.

REVOLT AGAINST ITALY.

FIERCE ATTACK ON VALQNA.

BELEAGUERED GARRISONS, Rt T*le«r«pfi■~^ r^B, ' Association— Copyright. (Bccebed 7.30 p.m.) A. and N.Z. SOME, June 13

A national rising against the Italians is | in progress in Albania. Fifteen thousand Albanian insurgents attacked Valona, the chief Italian base on the coast. Tho fight, which began at midnight, raged furiously for four hours. Tho insurgents mined all the roads leading from the town, destroyed bridges, and planted captured Italian guns on heights overlooking the town. With'these they shelled the Italian j naval base durbg tho main attack, Italian warships replying. The plight of the defenders appeared almost hopeless at four o'clock in the morning, owing to * treacherous attack by Mohammedans on their rear, but a detachment of Alpini made a desperate charge, slaying 200 of the enemy and capturing several thousand aid a number of guns. The Italians then rounded up all tho Mohammedans in the city, whom they deported to BrindisL The" Italian losses were severe. The first list contains the names of 37 officers missing. There are disquieting rumours concerning the fate of the Italian garrison at Scutari. | Italian garrisons at Santi Quaranta,! Dulcigno, and Antivari have been forced to embark.' A small garrison at Tepelino, in the interior, though it has been surrounded for many days, is still holding | out, and is receiving rations by aeroplane.. The Durazzo garrison continues pluckilyi to resist, but everything is ready for i evacuation.

A protectorate over Albania wag proclaimed by Italy on June 3, 1917, and Italian troops were landed to co-operato with the Allied army at Salonika. After the defeat of Austria the Italians extended I their occupation of the country to the j north and east and established a naval base at the chief Albanian port of Valona. Hostility to the Italians has been gathering force among the Albanians in the interior for many months past, and the set-1 'ling up of a rival Government to that j established, under Italian protection at Durazzo was recently announced. The policy of Essad Pasha, the most, influentia\ Albanian leader who has just been assassinated in Paris, had been oteaure for same time past, but it was understood that his mksion to' Paris was for the purposeof voicing Albanian opposition to an Italian protectorate, MANY STRIKES IN ITALY. TO STOP MILITARY TRAFFIC. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association (iJecd. 7.30 njnj ' ROME, June ,14. Strikes of seamen and railwaymen are occurring in many porta and cities in Italy in order to prevent the despatch of troops and material to Albania. Two Hundred Arditti, objecting to embark for Albania, caused a serious riot at Trieste. During tie trouble a number of soldiers and civilians were, killed or injured. Ultimately the rioters capitulated' and embarked, and quietfwas restored in the city. .-,/' • . A strike of railwaymen at Trieste is known as a " white " strike. The railwaymen simply fold their arms, but do. not leave the stations. Passengers are compelled to embark or depart 10 miles out- % side the city. The Government is using military engineers and marines as volunteers to run tie trains and load munitions. Troops have occupied the railway stations at Milan owing to a strike of railway men there.