ITALIANS’ PLIGHT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20915, 15 October 1942, Page 4

ITALIANS’ PLIGHT

GUERRILLA WAR BALKANS CAMPAIGN HEAVY TOLL TAKEN (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (2 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 14 Reports from Turkey reveal that guerrillas al'e waging vigorbus campaigns in the north, of Greece, Albania, and Yugoslavia. Eightyfour Italians were killed and GO wounded in a recent fierce battle in south Macedonia. Other guerrillas operating in the region of Castoria, Fiorina, and Koritza have joined up with General Mikhailovitch’s Yugoslav patriots. Their combined bands are continually inflicting losses on the Germans and Italians. The Greeks are mercilessly dealing with traitors and those collaborating with the occupying forces. Many of these are shot and their bodies nailed to trees under notices announcing the same fate for all who betray the country. Greek circles in London say that fjOOO Greeks arc fighting in Bulgarian-occupied Macedonia and 2000 to 2000 in Crete.

Albanians are increasingly hostile to the Italians. They, are staging demonstrations in towns and villages, frequently under the leadership of women, and are commiltting sabotage throughout the country. Albanians in the oilfields region of Kuschova attacked Italian guards and forced the Italians to retreat, • leaving 110 dead. Guerrillas drove the Italians out of the Skrapar region of south Albania, inflicting considerable casualties.

Yugoslav circles in Ankara reveal that the Yugoslavs in the six weeks to the end of August killed 0000 members of Italian armoured divisions, wounded 9000, and captured heavy artillery. Twenty per cent of the guerrillas are women.

A high price is offered for the capture of a man who fired two shots at the Slovak President, Dr. Tiso, when he was giving the Nazi salute. The bullet pierced Dr. Tiso’s sleeve. Many arrests were made, but the assailant has not yet been found, says a dispatch from the German frontier. The Hungarians arrested 20 hostages and imposed a fine of 6000 pengos on the tiny Yugoslav’ town of Movesamki after the stoning of a Hungarian officer. The police fired oh the demonstrators'but the culprits escaped.