The Southland Times TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1941. A Greek Victory at Klisura

Southland Times, Issue 24333, 14 January 1941, Page 4

The Southland Times TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1941. A Greek Victory at Klisura

THE CAPTURE of Klisura has been acclaimed as “possibly the most important victory since the outbreak of the Albanian war.” Although this may be an exaggeration it is certainly true that the occupation of Klisura brings nearer the fall of Valona and gives the Greeks a notable advantage on their central front. Italian strategy has been based on a defensive line which stretches from the port of Valona, north-east to the mountain stronghold of Herat, and thence northwards to Elbasan, the central base of Albania. This line has now been broken in a vital sector: the Greeks are already pressing towards Tepelini, which will give them access to the valleys of the Drynos, easy gradients to the gates of Valona. Military experts regard Valona as the key to the present situation in Albania. If it falls, the Italian line which was to have supported a counter-attack will be separated from its supply base. Further, the occupation of Valona will allow the Greeks to move northward through the easier coastal country until an encircling attack can be launched against Herat. This important fortress, the gateway to the oil fields, has been able to withstand long sieges in the past; but it proved vulnerable to attacks from the north during the last war. Meanwhile the Greeks are continuing their advance along the Shkumba River towards Elbasan. In this region the terrain is bad and the winter is severe. There have been reports of blizzards, and although the Greeks have shown great fortitude they may have to be satisfied with a slow progress. A remarkable feature of the campaign has been the cohesion of Greek strategy on three fronts. Fighting their way through mountain passes and over summits that should have been easy to defend, they are maintaining unbroken lines across a rugged country. Whenever there has been an extension of the line it has been followed by an encircling movement, invariably successful. In that way the Greeks captured Koritza, Argyrokastron and Klisura. They are now preparing to use the same tactics against Tepeleni, and then against Valona. These are orthodox tactics; but they are being used on a terrain which suits them perfectly. And behind them is a driving force far more potent than the slogans of a discredited Fascism. The Greeks are fighting for their homes and their freedom. They have won victories which surprised the world, and they have shown themselves equal to slow and painful effort on wintry heights as well as to the sudden valour with which they carry out a final assault. The renascence of Greece came like the turning of th' tide against the aggressor States.