The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-09
GREECE IN WILD
 CELEBRATIONS
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unceasing Greek-British bombing raids.
 Today's war communiue said: "All day (Sunday) our troops carried out offensive operations on various front sectors. They were crowned with complete success and resulted in the capture of important posi- tions in Albania. We have taken Argyrokastron.'
 Reports at Struga said nine Greek and British planes, in three waves of three each, had bombed Durazzo, chief Albanian port, Sat- urday evening, destroying one-third the port buildings and hitting gas- oline depots. Several bombs were said to have fallen in the town it. self, killing eight and wounding 1g persons. The same squadron was said to have bombed Valona later heavily damaging the harbor works and dropping two bombs on an Ital- ian barracks, killing IT Italians and wounding 30)
 Get Word of Fall
 Dispatches from two United Press Correspondents with the Greek army at Argyrokastron said the city fell shortly after noon after a furious battle in which Greek in- fantrymen charged and routed an Italian tank column, knocking the treads off the tank runners with rifle butts, or springing down from house balconies onto tanks to throw hand grenades into the gun slots. The battle began at dawn. Greek machine gunners had moved into the outskirts of town in darkness and Greek artillery had been wheel ed up to within easy range of a solid looking mosque at the edge of town, where the Italians were bar ricaded to dominate the road. Five Greek shells struck the mosque squarely, bringing down the roof The Italians fell back to civil gov- ernor's palace in the center ot town. They were rear guard, cov- ering the withdrawal from Argyro- kastron, and mostly from the sec- ond Bersaglieri division.
 The Italians finally used their tanks to block the narrow streets The Greeks pushed on, maneuver- ing from house to house before routing the Italian suicide" de- tachment.
 News of the victory reached Ath- ems and other Greek cities last night and set off the widest dem- cf fins1c ciV7nn f11n Tolling church bells brought crowds into the streets.
 Constitution Square quickly filled with soldiers and civilians, and ig- noring air raid precautions, search lights were played from the balcony of the army headquarters building. The crowd clamored for King George and Premier Gen. John Me taxas. The king appeared in front of the search lights, wearing khaki field dress. British air force, naval and army officers took bows, too.
 Movies were interrupted for news of hte victory to be flashed onto the screens and the theaters quickly disgorged their audiences into the cheering, singing street melee. Street cars and busses were damned with rollicking riders. Many persons climbed onto roofs to watch At Port Edda (Aghis Saranda) captured Friday, an Italian de- stroyer sunk in the harbor by a British bomber was said to be in shape for refloating. It will be hs.oi,olof fo AfhapS for vnoo,>ditl.x. ing, according to the newspaper Vradini, and probably will be re- named the Helle, commemorating the Greek warship torpedoed by the Italians.
 Navy Officers Resign
 It was reported that many Italian army and navy officers had resign ed on learning of the resignation of Marshal Pietdro Nadoglio, chief of the general staff, last week.
 Greek correspondents quoted . captured Colonel commanding a section of the 11th division of Al. pini that Badoglio opposed the AL banian campaign from the start but was over ruled by Benito Mus solini, who did not expect strong Greek resistance and certainly not a Greek offensive. He wanted a quick, spectacular victory to show his axis partner. Badoglio was immensely popular with the rank and file of the Italian army and Il Duce's at- tempt to shift the blame on him for the mistakes of staff officers may have the strongest repercussions in Italy and throughout the Italian army"