HEAVY FIGHTING IN ALBANIA

Southland Times, Issue 24300, 4 December 1940, Page 7

HEAVY FIGHTING IN ALBANIA

SEVERE CONDITIONS AT FRONT

(United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright)

(Received December 3, 7.55 p.m.) LONDON, December 2.

With snow three feet deep in the north and mud knee-deep in parts of the central and southern battlefields fighting in Albania is daily increasing in severity. The Greeks are advancing most cautiously beyond Pogradec, because, besides bad weather, the Italians are still holding some heights in this area. The slopes of the Mokra Mountains at present are the scene of the fiercest fighting in the northern sector.

According to the latest reports in Athens the Greeks captured the village of Mumuniste, on the western side of Lake Ohridsko, about three miles from Pogradec. Dispatches from the front point cut that the Italians are endeavouring to make counter-offensives, often resisting most furiously, but they have not prevented the Greeks from pressing on and occupying many useful positions by the familiar technique of cutting the supplies of each attacked body and then surrounding the position. The Italians sometimes resist to the last moment until they face starvation or annihilation.

Mere, as all along the front, the Italians have flown up picked troops, making resistance fiercer. Casualties on both sides are heavy and are increasing. The Italians are believed to be rushing all possible reinforcements of men and material from the North Adriatic. The Greeks emphasize that the superiority of Italian resources is the dominating factor in Greek strategy, for which reason success will continue only if British assistance is unremitting. MANY PRISONERS TAKEN The Greek night communique states that on the left wing the road from Saranda to Argyrokastron is now under fire from advancing Greek troops, who have also occupied new' positions around Permeti, where a considerable number of prisoners was captured, also all kinds of material. Many prisoners were also taken in the Ostrovitse Mountains, where our successful attacks dispersed enemy contingents. Northwards of Pogradec the battle continues in the Greeks’ favour. Victims of Greek bombing raids in the southern sector included the noted Albanian chieftain Djafer Upi, who joined the Italians after their seizure of Albania. The Italians sent him to the northern flank of the Epirus front to organize a corps of Albanian irregulars.

HARDER LIVING IN BRITAIN

GREATER USE OF HOME PRODUCE

(Received December 3, 8.10 p.m.)

LONDON, December 2.

The Minister of Food, Lord Woolton, in a speech, said: “We must live harder, using home produce to the maximum and importing only necessary supplementary stocks of foods already bought and now lying in all parts of the world. We need more ships and must increase the ship’s usefulness by at least 10 per cent.

“We cannot afford to bring in things not essential to the war. That is why I cut out imports of all fruits, except oranges, and all canned fruits. My Christmas box to you is an undiminished meat ration, which will, however, be smaller in the near future. You may also have less bacon from time to time than you are now receiving.’’

TORPEDO BOAT STURDY

LOST

LONDON, December 2.

The Admiralty announces that H.M.S. Sturdy, a torpedo-boat, ran ashore on the Scottish coast in thick weather. Five ratings were Jost. The Sturdy was built under the Emergency Programme of the last war. Of 905 tons, she carried three fourinch and five smaller guns and four torpedo-tubes.

By special arrangement Reuter's world service, in addition to other special sources of information, Is used In the compilation of the overseas Intelligence published In this issue and all rights therein in Australia and New Zealand are reserved.