ITALY’S DEFEAT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 December 1940, Page 8

ITALY’S DEFEAT

WHOLE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE MENACED VIEW OF CORRESPONDENTS ON BATTLEFRONT. GENERAL GREEK ADVANCE. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This 12.30 p.m.) LONDO.'lj’. December 6. The entire Italian Expeditionary Force is menaced, so well has the Greek High Command's plan matured—that is the opinion of British front-line correspondents on the Albanian battlefront. Despite large fires started by the Italians, thereby destroying part of the town,, the Greeks captured an immense quantity of war materials at Santi Quaranta. -A general Greek advance on the whole front is reported, although it is restricted in the north, and also in the Pindus regions, because the mountainous country, snowand fog are assisting the Italian retreat in the north sector. The Free French Agency’s Istanbul correspondent says over 6,000 Italian troops have entered Yugoslavia from Albania and have been interned in eighteen camps. Additional camps are being provided for Slovenes serving in ' the Italian Army. The Italians are separated from the Albanians because of frequent brawls.

“The Times” Balkans correspondent says the Greeks’ main problem continues to be to find the enemy in sufficient force for a decisive engagement. The Italians are endeavouring to avoid a decisive battle before they have regrouped their forces. "The Times” military correspondent says it would be arousing false optimism to suggest that an Italian rout is impending. Although Italy has suffered heavy defeats, she is still militarily strong. A Zurich message says the Reich Propaganda Ministry is busily spreading reports that Germany and Turkey are jointly trying to persuade Italy to reach a settlement with Greece, eVeh at the Cost of sacrifices.

ROME REPORT ADMISSION OF CONTINUED PRESSURE. (Received This Day, Noon.) LONDON, December 6. An Italian communique states: “The enemy in Albania, employing forces taken from other frontiers, continued his pressure, especially on our left wing.”