ITALIAN ATTACKS REPULSED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 33, 8 February 1941, Page 5

ITALIAN ATTACKS REPULSED

A DISASTROUS DEFEAT GREEKS OCCUPY NEW POSITIONS IB** Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright] Received Feb. 7. 7.45 p.m. LONDON. Feb. 6. Desperately attempting to break the Greek lines, the Italians violently counter-attacked in the central sector, but suffered a disastrous defeat. According to the Greek Press Ministry, the Italians lost several tanks and four armoured cars. The attackers, who were numerous, were driven back beyond the starting point, where the Greeks are now firmly established. The Greeks have made some headway in the coastal sector, but bad weather is hampering the advance. Greek artillery is hammering the Italians in the northern sector.

Received Feb. 7. 5.4 op.m. BELGRADE, Feb. 6. Two torpedoes, apparently fired from a British or Greek submarine at an Italian transport, missed the ship and exploded on the beach at Petrovag, near Budva. The authorities declared that the torpedoes were fired in Yugoslav territorial waters, where Italian transports were alleged to be seeking safety when going to Albania. It is also reported from Yugoslav ports that the wreckage of Italian ships and 100 oil barrels were washed ashore, indicating heavy British and Greek toll on Italian vessels. [ British Official Wireless. ] RUGBY. Feb. 6. A Greek communique issued on Wednesday night, states: “Activity is restricted to patrols and artillery. An attempted enemy attack with tanks was repulsed.” An official spokesman in Athens, commenting on Tuesday’s fighting, is reported as saying that the Greeks forced the Italians to abandon a strategically important position despite desperate defence. Hand-to-hand fighting took place in cne village, the Greeks finally chasing cut the Italians at the bayonet point in one of the most brilliantly fought actions on the part of the Greeks since the war began. A munitions dump in the village stocked with live shells and ammunition is now’ in Greek hands. In the coastal sector and on the front stretching aw’ay to the northward the Italians staged two counterattacks with the support of artillery, machine-guns, and mortars. Both [were repulsed and the attackers were forced to retire in disorder, abandoning dead and ivounded.