ITALIANS TRAPPED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 November 1940, Page 5

ITALIANS TRAPPED

CAPTURE OF 4000 MEN REPORTED IN RAVINE IN KORITZA DISTRICT. ENEMY DIVISION SAID TO BE SURROUNDED. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, November 5. The Greeks have captured 4000 well-equipped Italians stranded in a ravine in the Sanataporos Valley in the Koritza district. The Greeks closed the entrances, captured the Italian rearguard and opened fire on the main force, many of whom abandoned their arms and surrendered. The remainder fled to the ravine exits, where they met heavy Are, after which the Greek cavalry compelled them to surrender. It was earlier reported from Ohrid (Yugoslavia) that Greek forces in the Gorbec mountains northward of Bechlista, had surrounded an entire Italian division, also the base of the division, after capturing the Albanian villages of Zagradecetren and Progri, on the Devoli River. The Greeks, supported by light tanks, advanced along the second road from Lake Presba. If these Greek forces cross the Devoli River, they will probably be in a position to capture the devision, as they will then reach the main road between Koritza and Bechlista, where they should meet Greeks advancing along the main road beyond Bechlista.