ROUND-UP GOES ON

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 42, 13 November 1940, Page 7

ROUND-UP GOES ON

Italians In Pindus Region HUNGRY AND COLD More Determined Enemy Effort Expected (Received November 12, 8.10 p.m.) LONDON, November 11. The Greek Press is paying great attention to the continued round-up of Italians in the Pindus region. Lists of captured prisoners and material at present cannot be verified because small groups of prisoners are coming in at all hours in wild and difficult country. They are clearly demoralized, practically without food and suffering from cold. The Italians fled in such haste that they abandoned even an ambulance, medical supplies and wounded.

“Akropolis” publishes the text of a Fascist war chant in which the Italians envisage the conquest of Turkey, the occupation of Athens and Piraeus and the arrival of troops at the Aegean Sea. The Athens correspondent of the “Daily Express” says that Italy’s mechanized columns are stuck in the mud. The Greeks are harassing them from all sides, sniping and machinegunning from the hillsides and also shelling the Italians in some sectors. Scores of vehicles are bringing to Salonika Italian prisoners from various fronts. There were scenes of rejoicing when, several thousand prisoners arrived at Janina. Two Italian planes flew over two Yugoslav villages, but no bombs were dropped. Sign Of Reverses.

‘■The Times” says that the appointment of a new Italian commander-in-chief in Albania is the clearest, evidence that the campaign has hitherto gone ill- When a commander is sent to open up a campaign with insufficient forces and falls he is commonly relieved, but bis successor almost invariably gets a better start, because he is able to point out the deficiencies and demand remedies. Therefore, it can be taken for granted that General Soddu has not arrived in Albania without strong reinforcements. A message from Rome says that Generals Vercellino and. Geloso are o-oing to Albania to take over the command of the Ninth and Eleventh Army Corps, which are the main parts of General Soddu’s forces. General Metaxas, addressing members of the university staffs and high school teachers, said that military mobilization was complete and that the spiritual and intellectual mobilization of Greece must follow. Albanian rebels are reported to have dynamited and seriously damaged the largest bridge in Albania over the Maca River. British aircraft destroyed an Italian plane in the Becblista sector.

LONDON, November 11. The Athens radio claimed that the Italians are retreating in disorder in all sectors of the battle front into Albania. . . News from the Epirus front indicates that three battalions of Italian infantry attacked some Greek advance posts and found that they had been strongly reinforced, with the result that the enemy lost prisoners and material. Their light artillery "auickly abandoned its positions. . The Greek positions dominating Koritza have been further improved. Seventy captured trench mortars and heavy machine-guns have arrived at Janina. A Greek communique states: "Uur artillery shelled Italian concentrations on tlieEpirus front, indicting severe casualties and dispersing the enemy who abandoned material. A hundred Italian prisoners who arrived at Salonika declared that the communications in the Italian roar me poor, making it difficult for the High Command to make contact witli the advanced units. There are also reports of some unrest because tjie Italian campaign is not making progress. Greek cavalry which were urgently summoned to the battle zone in the Pindus region travelled from Salonika to Samarina in 4S hours. The latest reports from the front Indicate that the Italians are consolidating their positions on the Kalamas River after the failure of their advance down the coast. Major-General Gapibicr Parry stated

that Britain is speedily meeting the Greeks’ requests for assistance. Greece asked for anti-tank guns last Thursday, and 20 complete guns were promptly flown to Greece next day, were in action on Saturday, aud knocked out nine Italian tanks.

Twenty-two Italian and four Greek planes have been brought down since the invasion started. The Greek antiaircraft guns accounted for 11 enemy machines.

It is learned in Athens that British planes operating from Greek territory, again bombed embarkation )>orts in Italy and Albania aud, also operating with the Greeks, attacked supply trains and troop concentrations behind the enemy’s front lines.

In reply to lamentations and threats in the Italian Press in reference to the bombing of Turin, the Athens newspaper, "Kathimerini” tabulates Greek casualties from Italian raids which began before tlie population knew war had been declared. The total number of kilied is given as 316 civilians, and of 818 who were injured, many died. Two hundred and eighty-two bouses were destroyed.