FIERCE FIGHTING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21816, 20 November 1940, Page 7

FIERCE FIGHTING

PART OF KORCA OCCUPIED Ring Of Greek Steel United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received November 19, 11.10 p.m.) LONDON, November 19. The Athens radio reports that the Greeks occupied part of Korea after fierce hand-to-hand fighting. It also claims that 10 Italian ’planes were brought down yesterday. In the opinion of military experts, the definite news of the capture by the Greeks of a ridge overlooking Koritza justifies high hopes of the capture of the town itself. Commenting on the strategic importance of the town, which is the largest in Albania, it is pointed out that, standing as it does at the important junction of the two roads leading towards Greece, its capture would add greatly to the defence of that country. Should the town fall into the Greeks’ hands it is thought that an end would be put to the Italian advance towards Salonika unless Italy is prepared to violate the neutrality of Yugoslavia and attempt to enter outer Greece via Monastir. It is also probable that as long as Koritza remained in Greek hands the threat of invasion via Janina would be ended. Military commentatprs point out, however, that the capture of this town, although a severe blow to the Italians, and one which they will undoubtedly strive hard to avoid, would not give an easy opportunity for an advance by the Greeks. Although there are roads running north-easterly towards El Bassau, the country is extremely difficult. Koritza has a good civil aerodrome which the Italians worked hard to improve, but it is thought that a military aerodrome has probably been completed. Although the Italians are making desperate attempts to dislodge the Greeks from their advance positions near Koritza, the Greeks are so far holding firm and have repulsed wave after wave of infantry, supported by dive-bombers. At some points the Greeks have even pushed their advance positions ahead and have been countering Italian aerial activity by bombing communications to the rear of the Italian lines to cut off their way of escape and prevent reinforcements from being brought up. Fierce fighting took place round the Greek positions on Mount Ivan, to the north-east of the town. A message from Monastir, in Yugoslavia, reports a battl& between 12 British and Greek fighters and 15 Italian bombers, two of which were shot down. Athens had two air raid alarms today, one at 5.15 a.m. lasting 20 minutes, and another at 7.30 a.m. lasting only two minutes. Reuter’s correspondent in Athens states that the Italians are bombing and machine-gunning Greek columns and that they have slowed down the advance in Epirus, but their attacks are having little effect in the Findus and Koritza areas. According to a message from Belgrade an unconfirmed report from the frontier says that the Greeks took Korea in the early hours of this morning. .The amount of war material seized is not specified. A later message states that the Italians were exposed to a withering artillery fire as they retreated from Korea along the only road open to them. A ring of Greek steel invested two sides ensuring the downfall of the base from which Mussolini expected to sweep to Salonika. Large cheering crowds poured into the streets to welcome the first batch of wounded from the Korea front, which consisted of about 300 men, most of them suffering from Jjullet and grenade wounds. Buses were converted into ambulances to cany the soldiers from the railway to the hospital. One hundred Italian wounded arrived on the same train and were taken to hospital after the crowds had dispersed, to avoid demonstrations. A Greek communique says reports have been received of heavy fighting in Epirus and the region eastward of Korea where an enemy counter-attack was successfully repulsed from new positions occupied. Enemy detachments penetrating the region southward of Kalamas River have been pushed back northward of the river. The enemy is using large numbers of aircraft but in yesterday’s fighting the Italians lost nine machines to Greece’s two. A party of 15 Greek civilians from the Island of Samos raided an Italian post near Kalymnos. They landed from a small boat, attacked the guard of marines and killed four and took three prisoners. More Fighters Needed The Athens correspondent of “The Times” issues a warning that it is important to guard now against undue pessimism concerning Greece as it was vital previously to avoid exaggerated optimism. It is inevitable that the Greek troops will react to the relative invisibility of the Royal Air Force over the battlefields, similarly to the complaint of the British troops at Dunkirk, but just as the Royal Air Force then made the evacuation possible by heavy blows against enemy air bases, so now must we remember that the Royal Air Force Is concentrating against Italian bases rather than costly fights over the front line. But that is the achievement of the bombers. The fighting around Korea and elsewhere on the Albanian front requires fighters. If we enable the Greeks to follow up the magnificent achievements of their infantry, cavalry and artillery there is a serious possibility of throwing the Italians out of the Balkans before the spring, but this would mean more fighters, besides more bombers. It is authoritatively believed in London that the Greek advance has compelled the Italians to evacuate two of the most modem Albanian air bases which are near Korea. The only other main bases in Albania are Durazzo, Volona and Tirana. Twelve Greek fighters to-day shot down two of 15 Italian bombers near the Yugoslav border. A message from Belgrade says that foreign ’planes early this morning flew over Ucinj, Cetlnje and Danilovgrad. Two bombs were dropped on Danilovgrad. There were no casualties. It is officially announced that Italy has expressed regret at the “unintentional mistake” of Italian airmen in bombing Monastir on November 5. Six hundred Italians with 130 tanks afe reported to ' have entered Yugoslavia and surrendered to the authorities. A message from Belgrade states that a Blenheim bomber was burned out when it crashed near Danilovgrad. Apparently it lost its way and struck a mountain. Four of the crew were killed. - >