BROKEN BY GREEKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 January 1941, Page 5

BROKEN BY GREEKS

FIERCE ITALIAN TANK | ' ATTACK SUPPORTED BY WARSHIPS & BOMBERS. HEAVY LOSSES INFLICTED ON ENEMY. 'By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON. January 5. The correspondent of the ! British United Press on the I N alona front reports that the j Greeks shattered one of the [ fiercest Italian tank attacks ; since rhe outbreak of the war. though Italian bombers and warships supported the attack. which began from three points. The Greeks retaliated with terrific shellfire and drove the Italians from the coast road, after which Greek antitank squads, armed with heavy grenades, assailed the tanks. The’ Italian losses were very heavy, Italian warships continued to shell the coastal villages and roads. The Greek Government spokesman, reporting the new successes in the coastal region, said the Italians after stiff resistance withdrew to prepared positions in the direction of Valona. The Greeks took 100 prisoners, including officers. To the north-east of this sector the Greeks captured strategic heights 5000 feet high. The enemy opposition was stubborn. The Greeks took prisoner four officers and 150 men. A communique states that successful Greek local operations resulted in the capture of 1204 prisoners, including an officer, and .many automatic weapons. The spokesman said that not a single counter-attack all day succeeded. The most vigorous, that against Kelcyra. was the sixth attempted in this region and it was repulsed with heavy Italian losses. A Struga message, which is not confirmed, declares that German Panzer forces have arrived in the front line, six miles from Elbasan, where Italian and Greek artillery are fighting a duel. German bombers and German crews have landed at Tirana.