A NEW WAR

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10616, 15 June 1920, Page 5

A NEW WAR

ITALIANS ATTACKED ALBANIANS FORCE ENTRY TO VALONA. ARDITI CAUSE TROUBLE. By . Telegraph—Press ■ Assn. —Copyright AusViv.Uaii iind In'.Z. Cnblo Association. ROME, June 13. It if; officially announced that Albanian rebels made assaults on Valona, but -were repelled. Ten Italians were killed and twenty -wounded, and one general was captured. The Albanians tied, leaving six hundred dead and hundreds wounded. The Italians were reinforced. The latest unofficial report is that Albanians have entered Valona, and occupied PalermQ, further south. The defence of Valona its now entrusted to cruisers. Two hundred Arditi, objecting to embark for Albania, caused a serious riot in Trieste, and a number, of sol-, diors and civilians were killed or injured. The soldiers ultimately capitulated and embarked. Troops have oc■cupied the stations at Milan, owing to tlia railwaymen'B strike. FURIOUS FIGHTING TREACHEROUS MUSSULMAN ATTACK: RISING NOXv^GENERAL. (Received June 14, 5.5 p.m.) ROME, June 14. Tho fight for Valona raged furiously for four hours, beginning at midnight. Fifteen thousand Albanian insurgents placed mince on all the roads. They destroyed bridges and planted captured Italian jjuna on the heights overlooking the town. These shelled the naval base during the main attack, Italian ■warships replying. Tho defenders' plight was almost hopeless at 4 o'clock, owing to a treacherous Mussulman attack in their rear, but the Alpini mado a-desperate charge, slaying 200, and capturing eoveral thousands and a number of guns. Then, they rounded up all the Mussulmans, whom they deported to Urindisl. The Italian losses are severe. Tho first list contains 37 officers missing. There are- disquieting rumours concorning tho fate of the Scutari garrison. Later. The anti-Italian rising in Albania is now general. Italian garrisons have been forced to quit eeverah Adriatic seaports. The evacuation of Duraszo and Scutari is imminent. 'garrisons pluckily resist. national uprising throughout albania. (Received June 14, 8.45 pTm.) ROME, June 14. The garrisons at Santi Quaranta (eight miles north-east of Corfu), Dulcigno (on tho Montenegrin coast, twelve miles south of Antivari), and Ahtivari have been forced to embark.

Tho small garrison at Tepeleni, seventy-five miles south-south-east of Durazzo, though surrounded for many days, is stTil holding out, and is receiving rations from an aeroplane. Durazzo continues pluckily to resist, but everything is ready for evacuation. It appears that a national uprising is now ; in progress throughout Albania.

Strikes' of seamen and railwaymen are occurring in many Italian ports and towns, tho object being to prevent the dispatch of troops and material .

EX-DICTATOR MURDERED

TRAGIC AFFAIR IN PARIS. STUDENT SHOOTS ESSAD PASHA f HROUGH THE! HEART. . PARIS, Juife 12. General Essad Pasha. ex-Dictator of Albania, and head of the Albanian delegation to Paris, was shot dead by an Albanian youth outside his hotel. Tho -assailant was arrested. Ho said ho acted on a sudden impulse, owing to the suffering of tho Albanians. (Received June 14, 7.30 p.m.) PARIS, Juno 14.

Rustem, an. Albanian student, assassinated Es6ad Pasha in the Rue de Castigliono, holding him to bo an enemy of Albania's aspirations. Essad Pasha was entering a motor from tho Hotel Continental, when Rustem, who was hiding behind a pillar, shot him twice with a revolver. The second bullet penetrated tho heart, and Essad Pasba dropped dead.

Porters seized Rustem, whom the crowd half lynched. Runtem said ho wished to avene-e Albania's wrongs, and that Essad Pasha bad l>cen plottine against tho newly-formed Republican Government. Essad came to Paris as the head of the Albanian delegation, and stayed here since, because Italy rofuGod to permit him to return.