LITTLE PROGRESS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 November 1940, Page 6

LITTLE PROGRESS

MADE BY ITALIANS IN GREECE Defenders Reinforced and Fighting Confidently HOPES BASED ON WINTER AND MOUNTAINS NO SIGN YET OF SERIOUS DRIVE TOWARDS SALONIKA (By Telegraph.—Press Association—Copyright.) (Received This Day, 12.15 p.in.) LONDON, October 31. The Italians, hampered by snowfalls in Macedonia, continued to pound the Greek positions along’ the front with artillery today, but apparently are confining’ their main drive to the coastal region. Both sides are bombing- and machinegunning’ communications from the air. “L’Avora Fascista” claims that the Italians have crossed the Kalamas River and adds that the Greeks are resisting m some places, but generally are falling back to their main lines and attempting to block the Italians’ communications. The Greek authorities claim that the Italians have nowhere advanced more than six miles and have nowhere made contact with the main Greek defences. Greece is estimated to have 400,000 men fully mobilised. Trains are hastening to the front with thousands of khaki-clad troops. Many Greek units have already achieved outstanding offensive successes. Three companies held a whole division of Italian Alpine troops for many hours. A Greek platoon in another sector routed two Italian companies, which abandoned much equipment. As reinforcements arrive, the Italians’ numerical superiority disappears. The Greeks are confident that they will be able, with the help of winter and the mountains, ! to withstand the Italians’ better armaments. / Greek reports indicate that the Italians have not begun a serious drive towards Salonika. The Italians have concentrated large forces in the Korea region ready for such a thrust, but have not achieved a significant advance. The Italians similarly have not attempted to traverse the mid-front gap, which leads into difficult country. The main thrust, therefore, is in the coastal belt, but even here, according’ to the Stefani agency, the weather is most unfavourable. A week’s rain has transformed the roads into streams and the plains into swamps. Greek warships have bombarded the Italian columns moving along the eoast from Albania, a 8.8. C. broadcast reports. According to Rome reports two Italian columns are moving towards Janina, which is 30 miles from the Albanian frontier. They claim to be within five miles of their objective and that it will be taken tomorrow. It is stated that an announcement regarding Turkey’s attitude may bi? made publicly tomorrow.