ALMOST COMPLETE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 November 1940, Page 5

ALMOST COMPLETE

ANNIHILATION OF ITALIAN DIVISION BULK OF FORCE KILLED OR CAPTURED. ATTACKS PRESSED HOTLY. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, November 11. The Athens correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says it is officially confirmed that the annihilation of the Italian Alpini division trapped in the Pindus area has been completed, with the exception of some sections which escaped. The remainder of the division is either killed or captured. Describing the final stages of the operations, the Greek communique said: “We then launched a series of counter-attacks, pressing them stubbornly despite the hard terrain, bad weather and the difficulties of supply and provisioning. After a fierce fight the enemy was overthrow'll and retreated in disorder, hotly pursued. In their flight they carried away other forces landed at Valona and rushed by motor-cars to the front. The enemy losses in dead and wounded were very heavy. We took a large number of prisoners and a great quantity of all sorts of material.”

ELATION IN ATHENS ENEMY COASTAL DRIVE HELD. INVASION PUSHED BACK ON OTHER FRONTS. LONDON, November 10. The Athens correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph’ says there is immense satisfaction at the news that the Greeks have rounded up the Italian Venezia division, which is under the command of General Bonnini. The division pushed on alone for several days up the Pindus Valley, and the Greeks cut off the Italians from all roads. The Italian staff tried to provision General Bonnini’s troops from the air, but the supplies fell into the hands of the Greeks. According to one account, wolves harassed the invaders, but the manner in w'hich the Italians surrendered suggests pusillanimity and poor morale, in striking contrast to the Greek elan. The number of prisoners taken is not revealed, but it is certainly considerable. Much war material was also seized. The Athens correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says it is reported authoritatively that the

Greeks are holding the Italian drive on the west coast while pushing the invader backx at several points on other fronts.