ITALIAN DISARRAY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 November 1940, Page 6

ITALIAN DISARRAY

MORE ABOUT DEFEATS JN GREECE SIGNS OF NEW ATTACK DEVELOPING. ALBANIAN BASES BOMBED. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, November 12. It is reported from Athens that British bombers completely destroyed a depot of combustibles at the chief Albanian port of Durazzo last night, causing a fire which was visible for a hundred miles, and blew up a munitions depot. R.A.F. bombers sighted three large ships on fire fifteen miles from Valona. They may have been towed to sea after Greek bombers had attacked them on November 10. The Greeks have captured a further 11 officers and 600 of other ranks in the Korea district. A Greek communique says: “We have taken prisoner a great number of Italians, including several officers, in the Pindus region, on Sunday and Monday. Numerous materials of all kinds fell into our hands. The enemy bombed several points on our front ineffectively. Our Air Force bombed port installations and shipping at Valona.” The Ministry of Public Security, reporting on Italian raids on ten towns, says three villages in the Pindus mountains were severely damaged. The morale of the people remains excellent. It is reported from Monastir that the Italians are shelling the Greek positions at Lake Presba and dive-bombing Greek positions on the Korea front. The Greeks claim that they are coun-ter-attacking and are using abandoned machine-guns to hasten the retreat of the Italian force trapped in the Pindus area, where ravines are strewn with abandoned arms, ammunition and field kitchens. The main Italian offensive against the Greek centre was liquidated one week after the date set for the triumphal entry of the Italians into Athens. The Italian drive against Salonika from Korea was flung back. Only 3.000 alpini of 12,000 escaped the Greek trap. A relieving infantry column was also routed.

It is revealed in Athens that the Italians were confident that Greece would not resists. They arranged for necessary funds and finance services after the occupation. A large party of officials, accompanied by Bank of Italy officials, left an Albanian outpost on October 28 with the intention of installing themselves in Janini.