GRIP OF WINTER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 November 1940, Page 5

GRIP OF WINTER

FASTENING ON BATTLE FRONTS OPERATIONS SLOWED DOWN. ITALIAN REINFORCEMENTS REACH DURAZZO. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, November 26. Winter has bitingly gripped the Italian and Greek war fronts, slowing down both the Italian retreat and the Greek pursuit. Rain has drenched the valleys and snow has fallen on the mountains. Heavy fighting is reported to have followed an Italian stand on the road from Argyrokastron. The Greeks are using light and medium tanks. Another Greek force is pushing along the coast toward Santoquaranti. Moslems along the line of the Italian retreat are stated to be outraged by the Italian fortification of their mosques, which are usually very solid buildings. Fierce hand-to-hand fighting at the entrance to the town preceded the Greek capture of Pogradec. More than 300 Greeks were killed and 700 wounded, the Italian losses being three times as great. Planes of Italian “suicide squadrons” are reported to have protected 14 transports which today landed new contingents at Durazzo, from where they immediately went inland. A Greek communique issued in Athens last night, recording the advances and the capture of war positions, is supplemented by news reaching official quarters in London. A Greek Government spokesman announced: “The military situation is very favourable. We are advancing along the whole front.” An R.A.F. communique reported that low-flying R.A.F. units successfully attacked three separate motor transport and mule columns on the Argyrokas-tron-Valona road. The columns, which were rushing to the relief of hardpressed enemy forces north of Koritza, were completely demoralised. Vehicles were set on fire, lorries overturned, and mules stampeded. All the British machines returned. The Greek Ministry of Public Security states that the enemy bombed Corfu for nine hours on November 25. Very small damage was done, and there were only a few victims. Nearly 400 bombs were dropped. The enemy also bombed Lixuri, killing six people, including two babies.