ITALIANS RETIRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 November 1940, Page 5

ITALIANS RETIRE

ON PARTS OF FRONT MAY BE PREPARING FRESH ATTACK ENEMY LOSSES IN PINDUS AREA. DEVELOPMENTS IN KORITZA REGION. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, November 12. There are indications today that after their setback in the Pindus mountains in Greece, the Italian invaders are withdrawing on certain parts of the front, probably in preparation for a fresh attack. ' The latest Greek communique says that large numbers of Italian prisoners, including officers, and a considerable amount of equipment, are still being captured in the Pindus area. The. Italian air force is continuing its bombing of many parts of the front line and towns and villages in the interior. There has been some damage, but no military objectives have been hit. The Greek air force attacked port in stallations and shipping at Valona in Albania.

An Athens correspondent says that the Italians had advanced well into the Pindus area before they were checked by advance Greek forces. The Italians were trying to reach Metzovo. If they had taken it, they would have been well on their way to the plains. According to this correspondent the first indication the Greeks had of the Italian advance occurred when light Greek patrols intercepted a supply train. Lightly armed Greek forces gave battle, but it was only after the Italians had been halted and surrounded that the Greeks realised how strong the enemy was. Their forces consisted of 12,000 men who had been led over the frontier .by Albanians who knew this mountainous region intimately. The remnants of this Italian spearhead, which tried to struggle back after the rout of the division, left villages strewn with arms and equipment of all kinds, some of which the Greeks used in harassing them as they fled. On the Greek left wing near the coast the Italians have been handicapped by the threat resulting from the Greek success in the Pindus area. On the Greek right wing, which extends into Albania, the weather has improved and the Italians are sending up reinforcements and heavy artillery to attack the Greek positions overlooking Koritza.

CONTINUED SUCCESS MORE CAPTURES BY GREEKS. (Received This Day, 9 a.m.) LONDON, November 12. A report from Athens states that the Greeks, continuing their successes captured an additional 11 officers and 600 other prisoners in the Pindus area. From the trend of the fighting in Greece, an idea of the original Italian plan can now be secured. It looked as though the Greeks at first would not offer resistance and the Italians evidentally hoped to carry out a holding attack in the north and a full scale military operation against Metzoro which would give them access to the plains. Nearer the Adriatic coast another division was to attack and help ; the main thrust which was to have been a turning movement. So far, however, this plan has not worked out. The holding attack in the north was unsuccessful and the Greeks actually advanced into Albania toward Koritza. In the Pindus region the Italians have been put to flight and the attack along the coast has made little impression.

The Italian failure is apparently the reason for the change in the command recently announced.