The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, JANUARY 27th, 1941. THE ALBANIAN CAMPAIGN
THE continued successes of the Greeks in Albania are in the nature of a surprise, but there should be no expectation of the persistence of the forward movement. It might occur, but the difficulties of such an extended movement are obvous enough. Midwinter conditions, with snow and swollen mountain rivers slow down communications and transport. This presses more heavily upon the organisation supporting the army of the Greeks than upon the Italians, who are nearer to their supply bases. Much has been made: of the bayonet charges of the Greeks, but it is more probable that their successes are due to a superiority in artillery and artillery fire. The Italians appear to have relied more upon trench mortars and machine guns. To transport shells over mountain .passes, and to send adequate supplies of food and clothing to advancing troops is a task presenting major difficulties which could best be met by pressing forward the Valona. If Valona qould. be captured, then the supply base for the Italian, forces in the south would be cut off*.and would compel these forces to retire northwards, so as to have the port of Durazzo behind them. It follows that it would be good tactics for the Greeks to maintain the pressure in the southern or coastal sector —as was pointed out in this column when the campaign was in its early stages a,nd. to support this movement by pressure from the recent-ly-captured town of Klisur'a. But this pressure could easily lead to an over-reaching of themselves by the Greeks, with exceedingly dangerous risks attendant thereto. It is against such risks that the Greek Command will have to guard, and a slowing down of the movement is consequently the greater probability. Viewing the campaign from the Italian angle, it is essential that the Adriatic sea doast be retained at all fcostls, for with the loss of any part of it there is a consequent reduction in the channels Were the Italians to lose the port of Valona, not only would their effectiveness be reduced, but the strength of the Greek army would be commensurately increased by reason of their ability to land supplies on the battle ground by way of the sea.
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Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 263, 27 January 1941, Page 4
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384The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, JANUARY 27th, 1941. THE ALBANIAN CAMPAIGN Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 263, 27 January 1941, Page 4
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