HEROIC GREEKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23880, 3 February 1941, Page 8

HEROIC GREEKS

CAPTURE OF RIDGE EYE-WITNESS' STORY BITTER MOUNTAIN ASSAULT MELBOURNE, Jan. 24 Mussolini's "Wolves of Tuscany" —vaunted Italian division —had their fangs pulled in the desolate Albanian mountains by the Greeks, says Ronald Monson, in a despatch to the Herald, Melbourne. From a hilltop where the Greek divisional commander was stationed, I saw Greek battalions sweep up a thorncovered ridge commanded by two towering peaks—which the Tuscans had been ordered to hold at all costs —and drive out the Italians after a violent engagement. Mud and Jagged Rocks For two days I climbed through the mountains to the Greek front line. Mud, jagged rocks, and pathless slopes were the chief obstacles. Struggling upwards is a cruel task for men and mules. Some mountain sides are a moving sea of gluey mud, with here and there sharp rocks beneath, tearing the boots of the men and laming the mules. Wo took two hours to advance each half-mile. When I reached the top of a precipice, below which the Greek forces were gathered, the Greek guns were hurling salvo after salvo at the enemy positions preliminary to a dawn attack. Overnight a company of Greeks starting in a thunderstorm had climbed the western slopes of a 3500 ft. peak, commanding the nearer side of tho ridge, which was the main objective. They surprised tho enemy and captured 20 prisoners. Thrust In Snow An occupying force followed them and, in the snow then falling, audaciously pushed on to the crest, which was tl.e base for the day's operations. As daylight dawned, the commander fired signal lights, and all the Greek mountain batteries and heavy artillery in the valley thundered. Then a bugle sounded, and the barrage shifted on. I saw through field glasses Greek soldiers rise from scrub and move toward the ridge. The Italian machineguns rattled out death, and trench mortar shells rained between the khaki lines, bursting with great spouts of flame and black smoke, until tho whole hillside seemed blasted by them, but the sturdy, bearded Greeks still climbed up, bayonets glinting in the morning light. Rusty red puffs of smoke from Italian shrapnel began bursting over the Greeks right along the line. Gradually this line of bursting shrapnel receded from our post, showing how steadily the Greeks were advancing. Bayonet Charge On the right, heavy machine-gun fire temporarily held up the main body of advancing Greeks, but 1 saw a small party of Greeks work their way round the flank, then charge with the bayonet. The machine-guns were silenced, and the main body swept forwa rd. I saw the Italians pouring in retreat over the crest of one peak. Then I saw Greek infantry moving slowly and methodically on the top of the peak. From the other side, the Italians followed their usual tactics, and hurled mortar shells against the positions they had themselves just vacated. These rained down all along the face, but though I watched carefully, I could not spot a single Greek in this particular area. They had learned from experience what to expect. The position was ours.