VICTORY ELATES GREEKS

Southland Times, Issue 24332, 13 January 1941, Page 6

VICTORY ELATES GREEKS

IMPORTANCEOFFALL OF KLISURA CAPTURE OF TEPELENI NOW EXPECTED (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received January 12, 6 p.m.) LONDON, January 11. The fall of Klisura, which was received throughout Greece with wild enthusiasm, is possibly the most important victory since the outbreak of the Albanian war. It means the collapse of the main Italian resistance between Permeti and Valona. The fall of Tepeleni can be expected at a very early date giving the Greeks a commanding position in continuance of the operations, including two operations towards Valona and Berat, and after Berat, Elbasan. The battle for Klisura had lasted since the fall of Permeti on December 4 but the weather was the Italians’ ally. The Greeks pushed on vigorously from Permeti and succeeded in preventing , the Italians re-forming on the 20-mile front from Permeti northward. A series of rapid encircling movements forced repeated Italian withdrawals. Finally the Greeks captured the Italians centre with the entire artillery which was immediately turned on the Italians. The Greeks took Frasheri and forced back the Italians on a convex line round Klisura. Then the weather changed, turning i the streams into raging torrents, after i which the operations were frequently | halted in mid action. Blizzards reduced I visibility to a few yards and snow lay | four feet deep. The fall of Klisura is one which will live in the annals of Greece and will

certainly compromise the Italians chances to turn their fortunes in Albania. The official confirmation in Athens that the Greeks have occupied Klisura I has been received with satisfaction in ; London where it is appreciated that the weather against which the Greeks have to contend makes operations extremely difficult at present. Athens messages state that the news of the occupation of Klisura has given ,* rise to great joy throughout Greece. I The whole country is beflagged in I honour of the new victory. I A message from Rome says that an official statement of Italian losses on the Greek front in December gives the following totals: 1301 killed, 4598 wounded, 3052 missing. A communique issued at I states: Klisura was found empty. It I had been sacked and burned. About 500 I prisoners, including 20 officers, were I captured. A war standard, foui guns, i some tanks, a number of mortars, a quantity of automatic rifles and all sorts of war material also fell into our hands. Our aircraft were very active jon the field of battle bombing and machine-gunning enemy objectives. All our aircraft returned. It is stated in Athens that Greeks have occupied a mountain spur between Klisura and Tepeleni, which opens up the way to further successes. Another message states that the j Greeks are reported to have repulsed I three attacks by Italian motorized | forces near Dukati. The Greeks are believed to have taken Trepeli, 17 I miles north-westward of Klisura. i Six German bombers are reported to have arrived at Tirana from Italy. They later went to the Elbasan front. ‘ Greek planes today flew low over I roads, bombing and machine-gunning the retreating enemy, who abandoned a large number of fully-loaded lorries.