GREEK THRUSTS INTO ALBANIA

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21805, 7 November 1940, Page 7

GREEK THRUSTS INTO ALBANIA

Italian Division Surrounded

Magnificent Morale of Troops And Civilians United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received November 6, 9.27 p.m.) LONDON, November 5. rjIHE BALKANS correspondent of “The Times” says the -*■ Greek communique’s announcement of the capture of another Albanian height presumably refers to the heights opposite Morova Planina, northward of Zembak, or more probably to Strana Heights north-eastward of Bechlista. Whichever is correct the capture materially improves the position of the Greeks occupying the spurs of Morova Planina, because of the complete coverage of the FlorinaKorea road as far as Zembak. The Italians are persistently seeking to establish bridgeheads across the Kalamas River near its mouth. The Greeks have at least twice thrown them back across the river, where marshes hamper the enemy’s use of tanks. Although there are large-scale battles in this sector, there are continual back and forth movements in which the Greeks have taken some prisoners. The first Italian prisoners reaching Salonica are aged between 20 and 21. 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. The Greeks captured 4000 well-equipped Italians stranded in a ravine in Sanataporos Valley, in the Korea district. The Greeks closed the entrances, captured the Italian rearguard and opened fire on the main force, many of whom abandoned their arms and surrendered. The remainder fled to the exits of the ravine, but met a heavy fire, after which Greek cavalry compelled them to surrender.

The Athens correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph” says the reasons justifying sober confidence in official circles include—(l) The firmness with which the Greek advance lines held against Italian attacks. (2) The Greeks are not adopting “Gamelin” negative strategy but coun-ter-attacking and thrusting deeper into Albania. (3) The Italian thrusts must have made the mountain roads and vallevs liable to isolation. (4) Circumstances belied the Italian hopes for “victory by lunchtime. (5) The magnificent morale of the Greek troops and civilians is unrivalled since the independence movement in 1921. (6) Tire palpable distress shown m the Italian communiques which blame the weather for the 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. It is reported from Ohrid that Greek forces in the Gorbec Mountains northward of Bechlista surrounded an entire Italian division and also the base of a division after capturing the Albanian villages of Zagradecetren and Procri on the Devoli River. The Greeks, supported by motorised light tanks advanced along a second road from Lake Tresba. If these Greek forces cross the Devoli River they will probably be in a position to capture the division as they will then reach the main road between Korea and Bechlista where they should meet the Greeks advancing along the main road beyond Bechlista. Fall of Korea Imminent It is reported from Belgrade that the fall of Korea, the key point of the Italian operations on the northern front appears imminent. Aeroplanes are attacking the town, the fall of w’hich will lead to the collapse of the Italian offensive against the eastern gap in the mountains guarding the road to Florina, and also seriously affect Italian operations on the central front. The Greeks have captured the village of Zemjalwaere on the cross-roads to Korea and Lake Ohrid. They are reported to have captured much military material, including many tanks. The Italians are bitterly complaining that the Albanians have betrayed them. A message from Athens states that snow which is falling in the mountains on the northern front, is expected to greatly impede the Italian offensive if it continues. The latest. Greek official communique I states: “On the Macedonian front I another height in Albanian territory, in addition to those already announced, has been occupied by our forces. Following actions at various points on the front, prisoners were captured as well as howitzers, machine-guns and other materials. There is nothing else remarkable on the whole front except air action by the enemy. Our aircraft carried out bombing raids and machinegunned with great success concentrations of lorries and enemy troops at various points on the front. Reconnaissance flights were also made. “Enemy aircraft bombed the towns of Piraeus, Patres. and Volo as well as a number of small towns and villages without achieving any military gains. There were a few people killed and wounded among the civil population. No damage was done to military installations. In aerial combats, and through anti-aircraft fire, five Italian aeroplanes were brought down. On” of our aeroplanes did not return to its base.” According to the Athens correspondent of the British United Press, the Greeks stormed two positions on Mount Pissoderi, overlooking Koritza, and help on in spite of a desperate Italian attempt to dislodge them, in which aeroplanes dropped about 550 bombs on the mountain.

too, lost their way and dropped the supplies on a besieging Greek column. The pilots did not find out their mistake until, flying low to greet their comrades, they were greeted with a hail of machine-gun bullets. Other sources declare that a Greek force under the noted guerrilla leader, Vardha, cut toe communications of the Italian Army threatening Janina. The Athens correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” states that General Vardha is an eighty-year-oJd Balkan War veteran. The Italian force of which he cut the communications is reported to number 30,000. Yugoslav Village Attacked A Yugoslav border village has twice been attacked by three aeroplanes, the nationality of which has not been definitely established. Two peope were killed and five wounded. The British United Press correspondent states that the description of the aeroplanes tallied with that of an Italian Fiat type, C_t 20. Apparently the Italians thought the village was a Greek town. Other reports state that the aeroplanes had Greek markings, but many Italian aeroplanes have been seen over Greece with these markings. The Greek Minister in Belgrade said it was impossible that the attack could have been carried out by Greek machines, as the pilots all knew the border district well. A Belgrade message says that three bombers, identified as Italian planes, again raided Monastir this afternoon and dropped 100 bombs. Seven persons were killed and 30 were wounded. The crowd panicked. Half the population of 33.000 have quickly evacuated. The Italian consul at Monastir telephoned the legation at Belgrade which replied that there would be no further bombing meanwhile. It is officially stated in Belgrade “that further attacks would be met by all the means of our armed forces.” Police are guarding the Italian legation. Considerable material damage was caused in the first raid. An authoritative warning against paying too much attention to “good news” from Greece is issued. It is stated that Italian and German sources are busy cabling throughout the world quoting Greek circles from Cairo, Athens, Belgrade, Ankara and Salonika telling of British landings and actions with the object of causing dismay and disheartening the Greeks if British aid does not reach the heights of these rosy messages. It is the enemy’s intention to provoke denials causing a blow to the Greek morale.

The Belgrade correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain quotes a report that Greek artillery fire caused the closing of the highway between Yugoslavia and Koritza. A neutral report, which is confirmed in Athens, states that an Italian force was cut off in one sector of the front, while itself attempting to attack the Greek adva- ced positions from the rear. It is stated that the Italians lost their way and were quickly surrounded by the Greeks. Italian aeroplanes attempted to drop supplies, but they,