VIOLENT EFFORTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 March 1941, Page 5

VIOLENT EFFORTS

MADE BV THE ITALIANS COUNTER-ATTACKS FAIL. GREEKS TAKE MORE THAN 3,000 PRISONERS. ATHENS, March 11. T.he Italians who are making a violent effort to regain lost positions at various points in Albania have so far failed completely. The Greeks, continuing the offensive in the central sector, have brought in more than 3000 prisoners. An Athens spokesman reports that the Greeks literally mowed down the advancing Italians, and those who were lucky enough to survive fell back thoroughly demoralised. Tonight’s communique states: “The enemy’s violent offensive operations continued, but all the attacks were repulsed with heavy losses. As a result of our counter-attacks we took prisoner 450 men, including three senior officers.” BATTLEFRONT news LOUDSPEAKERS USED BY GREEKS LONDON, March 11. Rome radio asserted that the Greek High Command resorted to new propaganda tactics in the last few nights. Loudspeakers in the front lines told the Italians that Greece had already won the war. FASCIST LEADER KILLED BY HIS OWN TROOPS. ATHENS, March 11. The Press Ministry stated that the Italian Fascist leader and ex-Minister, Guiseppe Bottai, whose death was reported yesterday, was killed when firing on his own retreating troops in Albania. strated by the fact that the municipality of Istanbul is preparing to demolish all wooden houses in the city, and also to evacuate the inhabitants who wish to leave. Turkey is also rapidly completing her defences and is storing reserves of food in the interior. YUGOSLAV DENIAL NO GERMAN ULTIMATUM. * (Received This Day, 9.15 a.m.) BELGRADE, March 12. A Yugoslav nows agency has issued a statement that reports from a foreign source, alleging that the German Minister sent a representation to the Yugoslav Foreign Minister in the form of an ultimatum, are entire inventions, circulated witlY a tendencious aim. The some applies to reports tending to represent friendly YugoSlav-German relations in a false light.