NEW POSITIONS TAKEN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21822, 27 November 1940, Page 5

NEW POSITIONS TAKEN

MN KW BECOMING LIKE ROUI United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received November 26, 10.50 p.m.) LONDON, November 25. THE Greek night communique says: Our troops continuing to advance, have occupied some new positions. It is estimated that four Italian divisions have been cut up or destroyed on the Albanian front since the outbreak. The single armoured division with which Italy began the invasion has been thoroughly dislocated. An official Greek statement says that the 8000 additional Italians captured help to confirm the unofficial despatches that the Italian retreat is increasingly like a rout, although the precariousness of the situation varies according to the sectors. After leaving their strongly fortified positions on Mount Ostrovitse, the Italians are attempting to form a new line in the Tomor Mountains for the protection of the Italian stronghold of Herat. The Greeks have the utmost difficulty in keeping touch with the fleeing enemy, many of whom have discarded their arms and are hiding in the mountains, where they are hunted out by Greek detachments. One of the latest reports suggests that the Italians are even leaving Elba san.

K.A.F. Bombs Columns The Greek Ministry of Public Security states: The enemy bombed Corfu for nine hours on Monday. The damage was very small and there were only a few victims. Nearly 400 bombs were dropped. The enemy ilso bombed Llxuri, killing six persons including two babies. The Government spokesman announced that the military situation was very favourable. “We are advancing along the whole front." A Royal Air Force communique says: Low-flying Royal Air Force units successfully attacked three separate motor transport and mule columns on the Argyrokastron-Valona Road. The columns, which were rushing to the relief of the hard pressed enemy forces northward of Koritza, were completely demoralised. Vehicles were set on fire, lorries overturned and mules stampeded. All our machines returned. The Italians have been out >f Argyrokastron since yesterday, according to news from Albania received in Athens. The report is not confirmed officially, but it was stated that Greek advance guards were a short distance from the town’s aerodrome this morning. As the Greeks advance, the Italians are suffering more and more from the loss of their air bases. Argyrokastron is the important Italian position in the south, corresponding to Koritza in the north. It is officially announced in Athens that the Greeks have taken a further eight thousand Italian prisoners. Five thousand more Italian prisoners have arrived in Athens. It is reported from Salonika that the Greeks captured several hundred Italians and 200 lorries at Pogradec.

The Italians are reported to have evacuated Argyrokastron on Sunday. All roads are littered with abandoned material seriously disorganising the retirement. Rain is contributing to the misery of the Italians, whose mechanised forces are bogged. The valleys are also churned up, the roads in many parts of which are like swamps. In spite of the weather the British and Greek air forces continue to bomb the Italians on the road between Pogradec and Elbasan and are also extensively reconnoitring. Meanwhile a new danger threatens the Italians as the Shkumba river is likely to overflow its banks. Chagrin at the Italian reversal is reputedly to be the cause of the suicide of an unnamed former Commander-in-Chief in Albania who calculated that 200,000 men were enough for a blltzkreig against Greece, but an article in “Regima Fascista” is a more significant indication of the Italian dismay at the Albanian situation. Signor Farinacci, writing in this paper, is the first Italian critic of the Italian general staff. “Lack of foresight, military preparedness, also a badly chosen season for military operations caused the happenings at Korea, but the Italians, feeling their honour slighted, are now preparing terrifically to defeat the enemy.” While the Italian publicist is thus castigating Italian leadership, General Sir John Dill sent a message to General Papagos congratulating him on the success at Koritza and praising the valour of the Greek army. General Papagos replied: “I am happy to fight side by side with Britishers to drive out the invaders.’’