FORCE WIPED OUT

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21367, 11 March 1941, Page 5

FORCE WIPED OUT

THE VICTORIOUS GREEKS APPEAL BY MUSSOLINI “SAVE FASCIST ITALY” (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received March IT, 12.25 p.m.) LONDON, March 10 Successfully continuing the great battle begun in the central sector on March 7, the Greeks captured one Italian position after another. The enemy losses were extremely heavy, especially among commissioned officers. It is now known that in addition to the casualties reported the Seventh Battalion of Blackshirts was wiped out and its commanding officer taken prisoner. Prisoners state that when another officer who was an intimate friend of Mussolini was killed a desperate fight waged around the body until the Greeks finally drove off the Italians. Documents found in the officer’s pockets included a letter from Mussolini exhorting his friend to do his utmost to prevent the Greek advance,” otherwise Fascism will die under the scourge.” The letter added: “Do everything to replace everyone, but do not let the Greeks advance another step. Save Fascist Italy!” Unconfirmed reports state that the officer was Bottai. The Italian Version An Italian communique states: Our troops captured prisoners and turned back the enemy who were attempting to approach Jarabub. The Air Force bombed naval bases in Cyrenaica. The enemy raided Tripoli, killing three people and injuring two and causing slight damage. Raids on Harar and Diredawa caused no damage. GREEK OFFENSIVE IMPORTANT POSITIONS TAKEN DASH AND SPIRIT OF MEN ITALIANS HEAVY LOSSES (Official Wireless) (Received March 11, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, March 10 The Greek Press Ministry, in further describing Saturday’s fighting, states that the Greek offensive continued- in the centre sector from morning till evening, the dash and spirit of the Greek troops being beyond eulogy. The offensive in this sector was launched in three regions. In the first assault the Greeks occupied a rocky position where the enemy had been installed for a month. fThe Italians did everything to defend it. but towards mid-day gave way. During the flight they suffered heavy losses from automatic rifle artillery and mortar fire. The Italian commander sent an urgent message for reinforcements. In the afternoon the Italians launched consecutive counter-attacks to retake the lost positions. All were repulsed and the enemy retired to other positions, abandoning a number of dead and wounded. In another region in this sector combats continued all day and resulted in the Greeks occupying extremely strongly fortified enemy positions. The Italians suffered heavy losses in killed and wounded in being driven from positions in which the Greeks are now well installed. TO BITTER END DEFENCE OF INTEGRITY DETERMINATION OF GREECE j (United Press Assn.--Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, March 10 Replying tu Axis propaganda and the declaration that Greece must be liquidated bee ause she is the last factor of disorder in the Balkans, a semiofficial statement made in Athens says that Greece is indiffeient to threats and will defend her integrity and independence beside her powerful Allies and friends to the bitter end. The statement adds: “ Greece cannot be called a factor of disorder. On the contrary, all human and divine ideas of order are inseparably bound up with that pacific ideal which Greece abandons only when attacked.” A fighting speech to a mass meeting of delegates of workers has been made by the Greek Prime Minister, M. Komzas, who referred to the great support received from the workers in this critical hour. t He paid of tribute to the late Prime | Minister, M. Metaxas, whose and other fine work had welded the nation together. IN ARMOURED CAR MUSSOLINI AT FRONT VISIT TO TEPELINI AREA ' United Press Assn.-—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, March 10 The correspondent of the Associated Press ol‘ Great Britain at Greek headquarters says captured Italian i officers reveal that Mussolini visited the Tepelini front in an armoured car just before the present Greek j offensive. I They also stated that Bottai. former i Minister of Education, and Cianetti, former Under-Secretary for Corporations. were killed or wounded after the offensive began. Cianetti was j captain of an, artillery battery. ] The officers added that the Italian , Commander-in-Cnief. Cavallero, had returned to Italy and that General I Gelloso was now in command in ] Albania.