ITALIANS IN FLIGHT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 November 1940, Page 5

ITALIANS IN FLIGHT

VP THE ADRIATIC COAST CAPTURE OF ARGYROKASTRON REPORTED. BRITISH AIR SUCCESSES. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, November 28. The Associated Press of Great Britain says that the remnants of the Italian southern armies tonight are reported to be in full flight up the Adriatic coast after a great Greek victory. A “regiment of death,” composed of selected Fascists, the cream of the Italian army, resisted stubbornly in an unrelenting battle which was continuous day and night for four days. The Greek armies on the left wing are continuing their successful operations on a considerable scale. The Brtish United Press reports that the Greeks took Argyrokastron in the afternoon after two hours shelling and a ninety-minute hand-to-hand street battle, after which the Italians retreated toward Tepelene. The Italians had left 2000 troops to defend the town but a Greek motorised force advanced upon it and the Greeks forced their way into the town an hour later, despite most determined opposition. A large part of the town is destroyed., and it is believed that there are 300 people dead under the ruins. Five Blenheims and three Lysanders joined in a battle over the town with 10 Italian bombers, shooting down three. One Blenheim made a forced landing. The Associated Press correspondent states that British and Greek fighters shot down seven, probably eight, Italian bombers in half an hour. One Britis plane was lost, but the pilot is believed to be safe.

While the Greeks are consolidating their gains to avoid isolation of their most advanced units, the British and Greek air forces are .taking over the captured bases, halving the distance for raids against Valona and other ports, and intensifying their onslaughts against the Italian armies. A spokesman in Athens said: “Thanks to the R.A.F. Italian reinforcements are unable to reach their destination.” - ENEMY FORCE ENVELOPED. The Greek advance on the southern front continues with bitter local engagements. The Greeks in the Argyrokastron area continue to thrust methodically from height to height, bewildering the Italians by their plodding thoroughness. Three thousand Italians are now surrounded in this sector. The Greeks have also made substantial progress in the north. Violent battles are raging, but the Greeks are advancing from Pogradec, despite opposition stiffened by reinforcements. The Greeks are blasting the Italians from their trenches with Italian grenades, thousands of which were abandoned along the Elbasan road. Advances from Ersek and west of Koritza threaten the Italian positions on the upper Devoli and Vojiuza River. Four hundred Italians in the central sector surrendered to 15 Greeks. After an Italian lieutenant was killed, an

Italian captain waving a white flag, advanced to the Greeks with a whole battalion, which surrendered. The Greek night communique claims new successes in local fighting, in which aeroplanes participated, several enemy machines being shot down. Enemy destroyers shelled the north coast of Corfu and withdrew under cover of a smokescreen when British seaplanes appeared. "The Times” Athens correspondent says the Greek advance has been so rapid that commercial aircraft are being used to carry rations to the forward troops. The Athens radio announced that Marshal Badoglio had assumed command of the Italian operations against Greece. Two important raids were reported in last night’s Cairo communique, one on Valona, an important supply base for the Italians, and the other on the retreating Italian troops 15 miles inland from Valona.