GREEK SUCCESS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24449, 7 November 1940, Page 9

GREEK SUCCESS

CAPTURE OF ITALIANS FOUR THOUSAND MEN TRAPPED IN RAVINE (United Press Association) ■ ’ (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, Nov. 6. (Received Nov. 6, at 11.30 p.m.) The Greeks captured 4000 well-equipped Italians stranded in a ravine in Santa Aporos Valley, in the Korea district. The Greeks closed the entrances and captured the Italian rearguard. They then opened .fire on the main force, many of whom abandoned their arms and surrendered. The remainder lied to the ravine exits and met a heavy fire, after which the Greek cavalry compelled them to surrender. The Times Balkans correspondent says the Greek communiques announcement of the capture of another Albanian height presumably refers to heights opposite Morova Planina, northward of Zembak, or more probably the Strana heights, north-eastward of Bechlista. Whichever is correct the capture materially improves the position of the Greeks occupying spurs of Morova Planina, because of a complete coverage of the Florina-Korca road as far as Zembak. The Italians are persistently seeking to establish bridgeheads across the Kalamas river near the mouth and the Greeks have .at least been twice thrown back across the river, where the marshes hamper the enemy’s use of tanks. Although there are no-Jarge-scale, battles in this sector there are continual back and forth movements in which the Greeks have taken some prisoners. The first Italian prisoners to reach* Salonika are 20 and 21 years of age. All are very dejected. They said they were transported to Albania without knowing their destination. The morale , of all the troops in Albania is poor. According to Greek sources British bombers .are participating in the raids on Korea. . CONFIDENCE IN GREEK CIRCLES ✓ The Daily Telegraph’s Athens correspondent says that reasons justifying sober confidence in official circles include. First, the firmness with which the Greek advance lines are being held against Italian attacks. Secondly, the Greeks are not adopting “Gamelin” negative strategy, but are counter-attacking, thrusting deeper into Albania. Thirdly, Italian thrusts must be made on mountain roads and in valleys liable to isolation. Fourthly, circumstances belied Italian hopes for “ victory by lunchtime.” Fifthly, the magnificent morale of the Greek troops and civilians has been unrivalled since the independence movement in 1921. Sixthly, palpable distress is shown in Italian communiques, which blame the weather for lack of success, although Italian bombers to-day unsuccessfully attacked Piraeus and two other points in the Athens area. The raiders are reported to have come from Italy, instead of the usual base in the Dodecanese Islands.