The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-11-27

tains inside Greece on that front and Greek reports indicated that it was being eterminated.
 Albanian Rebels
 Reports here indicated that the uprising of Albanian Rebels behind the Italian lines was assuming large proportions. Winter was approach ing, to wash out roads with rains and block mountain passes with snow, further impairing the Italian campaign, and the general effect of the months war, as viewed here, had been to lower the Axis powers prestige, and give British forces here foothold on the continent which they had lost in the evacuation of Dunkirk.
 (The Greek radio, heard in Luda- pest, reported that, Of Is Italian di- visions sent to Albania, at least two had been completely destroyed" and five others smashed. An Italian in- fantry division normally has 17,00C officers and men. Front reports have indicated that only. one Italian arnored division, the size of which varies, has been in Albania, although infantry divisions have their owr motorized units. On this basis, 306.- 900 Italian troops were in Albania 34,OOO were destroyed" and 85,00( smashed.
 Italian Air Offensive
 The Italians opned a major ail offensive along the front yesterday bombing almost every sizeable town in the 150-mile area. In some sec tors, as many as 300 Italian planes operated in a group. The bombers were protected from above and below by chasers, but Greek and British fighting planes charged ir and out of the Italian formations frequently sending an Italian plane down into valley in a spiral o1 snake. The Italians tossed tons o1 explosive bombs among the muntair peaks. In the Lake Ohrid sector a Greek monastery high on a noun tain side was said to have been hi by 30 bombs. One hit an infirmary where Monks were attendinf Greek and Italian wounded, and killed several persons.
 Battle Is Raging
 Belgrade, Jugoslavia, Nov. 27- (UP)-Frontier dispatches said to- day that a battle for Argyrokstron most Italian base in Southwestern Albania, was imminent and it was reported that Italian troops ir Porto Edda, southwest of Argyroka- Stron, were retreating.
 Dispatches from Struga said that the Greeks now were within two miles of Argyokastron and Strugs dispatches reported also that the Italans began withdrawing from Porto Edda last night and were fleeing northward along a coastal road, subjected to ambuSheS by AL banian rebel forces.
 Porto Edda, southernmost Italian port in Albania and named fol Premier Benito Mussolini's daugh- ter, was reported cut off from Argyokastron by the Greeks. Struga dispatches claimed thai the Greek advance which cut com munications between Porto Edds and Argyokastron started last Fri day night from the frontier villages of Landani and KaStaniani. In this advance, dispatches said, the Greeks occupied the village of Buljarat. and continued to advance along a secondary road in an operation which resulted in capture yesterday afternoon of the village of Jordu- cate, strategically important road | junction.
 It was the occupation of Jordu- cate, Struga dispatches said, which resulted in cutting Porto Edda off from Italians in Argyrokastron. Defend to Last Man Reports at Struga said that Gen Ubaldo Soddu, Italian undersecre- tary for war and commander-in- chief of Italian forces in Albania, had ordered Argyrokastron defend ed to the last man." Following this report, however, were other dis patches asserting that the Italians already were evacuating Argyroka- stron and were concentrating Tn IlCM DOoltAOlAo HUI OllCdoI VI OAAC VOWAA in the Valley of the Ljugari, trib- utary of the Argyrokastron river.
 Frontier dispatches said that early today Greeks renewed their offen- sive operations from Jorducate along the main road to Argyroka- stron and occupied the village of Terihati without fighting. Italians were said to have withdrawn from Terihati only last night.
 The Greeks were reported con- tinuing to advance from Terihati and last reports placed them near the village of Vanista, only about three miles from Argyrokastron.
 Italian resistance at Jorducate was described as strong and there. it was reported, the Italians sesl three officers arc 70 soldiers Killed and more than 90 wounded. Greek losses were not specified but they were reported heavy.