LOSING GROUND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 February 1941, Page 5

LOSING GROUND

• ITALIANS IN ALBANIA — IN SPITE OF HEAVY REINFORCEMENTS. AND ORDERS TO HOLD VITAL POSITIONS. — ]n Albania, the Greeks are maintaining their pressure on the enemy on the central front. Greek and British planes have attacked enemy troops and positions north and sonth-wesr of Tepelene. The Italians have been ordered to hold their positions in this area at all costs, but are being forced back and are suffering heavy losses. Italian reinforcements are reported to have been conveyed by air from Brindisi to the Tepelene region, and Bersaglieri and Blackshirt units have been thrown into this vital sector. VIGOROUS FIGHTING GREEKS EXTEND TALLY OF SUCCESS. LONDON. February 18. Vigorous fighting marked the ; sixth day of the local Greek offensives in Albania, especially in the central sector, where the Greeks increased their tally of successes against strongly fortified and stubbornly held positions. The Italians are rushing up reinforcements in an attempt to stem the Greek advance, but the Greeks captured a stronghold nearly 6000 feet high. The Greek Press Ministry described this and other captures as highly important. The Italian casualties continue to be abnormally high. FURTHER GAINS ; MEN AND ARMS TAKEN BY GREEKS. ißritish Official Wireless.) • Received This Dav, 10.5 a.m.) - I RUGBY. February 19. ! The latest Greek communique | states: "Successful operations re- I suited in the enemy being dislodg- I cd from some positions and suffer- • ing heavy losses. About 300 prisoners were taken and quantities of automatic arms and mortars fell into our hands. “Greek aircraft successfully bombed objectives in the front line. All our planes returned to their bases." PERSISTENT BOMBING ENEMY TROOPS & CAMPS ATTACKED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10 a.m.) RUGBY. February 19. British air headquarters in Greece states: “During the past two days the R.A.F. has maintained concentrated attacks on enemy positions in the Tepelinc area, in support of the Greek forces. “On Monday enemy troop concentrations and military camps in the villages of Kamshisht and Dames, north of Tepeline, and motor transport and I military buildings at Beshisht andi Kautsisti were heavily bombed, but I full observation of the results was im-l possible. Several offensive fighter patrols were also carried out. Yesterday, i despite unfavourable weather military; targets in the area south-west of Tepe-; line were successfully raided. The area ; was covered by low cloud, but our air-1 craft dived through and carried out; ow-level attacks and direct hits were scored on enemy troop concentrations and motor transport columns on the! roads. All our aircraft returned safelv.