GREEKS TAKE SANTA QUARANTA AND ARGYROKASTRON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 December 1940, Page 7

GREEKS TAKE SANTA QUARANTA AND ARGYROKASTRON

Headlong Italian Retreat in Southern Albania LARGE CAPTURES OF PRISONERS AND MATERIAL OTHER IMPORTANT GAINS BY ATTACKING ARMY The most important victoiy won by the Allies since the beginning - of the war, a 8.8. C. broadcast states, is announced by the Greeks, who have occupied Argyrokastron, the capital of south-west Albania, and an important Italian base. The Italians had been slowly evacuating - the town during - a period of 48 hours and completed it on Thursday night. In some areas the Italian retreat is said to be developing into a headlong flight. Many prisoners have been taken, including officers of high rank. A whole battalion and a battery of mountain artillery have been captured at one point. An earlier broadcast announced that Santi Quaranta, a seaport and important Italian supply base on the Albanian coast, had fallen to the Greeks. The capture of the place was announced officially in Athens yesterday afternoon. The Italians were then reported to be retreating to a point twenty miles to the north. A quantity of war material was taken by the Greeks in Santi Quaranta, but only 125 prisoners. In taking - Santi Quaranta, the Greeks cut the communications of Argyrokastron with the coast. Fierce fires are raging in Santi Quaranta, where the Italians destroyed much of their war matrial, though immense quantities of supplies, arms and ammunition were captured by the Greeks. When the Italian headquarters staff was evacuating the port, British planes attacked an Italian destroyer entering the harbour and put it out of action. Two Italian cargo vessels were also attacked.. Thousands of prisoners have been observed coming through to the Greek rear areas during - the last few days. On the northern front a stiff battle is developing in the mountains, where the Greeks have captured many important positions and are now eight miles beyond Pogradec. It is confirmed officially that in air battles on Wednesday, the Royal Air Force destroyed eight Italian planes and severely damaged seven others.