NEW OFFENSIVE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23851, 30 December 1940, Page 8

NEW OFFENSIVE

MORE GREEK SUCCESSES FRESH HEIGHTS TAKEN VIOLENT BATTLES IN SNOW By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received December 20, 5.M0 p.m.) LONDON*, Dec. 2!) Last night's Greek communique reported further local successes in spite of snow and bitter winter weather. A new offensive is being launched north and north-west, of Himara and it is stated from Athens that the Italian resistance has been broken. One report says that the Italians linve been driven from positions on heights exceeding »!<H)oft. Artillery lias been dragged on sledges over the snow to new positions and the Greeks are now shelling the approaches to Tepeleni. Heavy Artil'iery Duels A violent battle is raging in the Klisura sector in Albania at a point where the Italians concentrated great forces in order to defend an important mountain pass and also northward oi lvlisura, where the Greeks are threatening to cut the highway to Herat. The Greeks northward of Pogradee have raptured new positions and taken prisoners and material. Heavy artillery duels are continuing in the north. Chaos of Italian Retreat The Daily Telegraph's Athens correspondent savs the (jreeks in the KlisuraTepeleiii sector are maintaining a policy of jumping Ironi hill to hill, retraining from entering the towns until all the surrounding heights are cleared. A Greek capture of five officers and J.j men belonging to five different units indicates the chaos ol the retreating Italians, whose units mingle pell meil. M ore than 200 prisoners, including several officers, have been taken in recent fighting, as well as automatic rifles and other material. In its advance the Greek army is now being assisted by detachments oL' Albanians. THREE SHIPS SUNK GREEK SUBMARINE'S FEAT ITALIAN CONVOY ATTACKED FLEET SEEKS SHELTER (Received December 20, fi.35 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 29 Three Italian supply ships were sunk in the Adriatic Sea by a Greek submarine last Tuesday. The submarine encountered a convoy of 1 I ships escorted by destroyers, which were carrying troops and material from Brindisi to* Valona, and attacked the convoy with torpedoes. It was successful in sinking three of the vessels, representing a total of between 25,000 and '30,000 tons. Although the escorting destroyers pursued the submarine and dropped depth charges it escaped undamaged, and lias now returned safely to port. The commander of the submarine has been promoted and decorated. Decorations were also awarded to officers and members of the crew. The main body of the Italian Fleet has been driven out of the southern Adriatic and has taken shelter at Fiume and Pola, in the northern Adriatic, in order to escape the attacks of British bombers, according to Greek naval authorities. Only one Italian cruiser and several destroyers remained to cover the Italian rearguard action before the fall of Himara. DONATIONS TO GREEKS FUNDS FROM RHODESIA (Received December 20, 5.H5 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 2S For the relief of Greek combatants and civilians, the Federated Rhodesia n Hellenic communities have raised £BOOO. The National War Fund in Southern Rhodesia has made a further grant of £SOO. Already £6500 has been sent to General Mctaxas.