Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-24
|Retreoting Italian Army Split
By Advance Of Defenders From
Pindus Mountains, Greeks Say
Fuscists Declared
Unable to Form
Line of Resistance
the Associated Press.

PI Gen troops. ulSplIcu NY 1iio 40"
Koritza, were reported today to
lave split the retreating italian
Army in two. driving a spearhead
rom the Pindus Mountain sector
traight through the Fascist lines.
Military observers declared the
|ursuit into Albania was so relent-
ess that the Italians were unable
b form a new front for defense
gainst fighters of the nation they
ought to invade
At sea, warships of the italian
Navy stole up upon the shores of
he Greek island of Samos in the
Aegean and shelled it. but the Greek
high command said this maneuver
Vas unsuccessful.
Samos, with population of more
han 10000, is separated from the
mainland of Asiatic Turkey by
trait only a mile wide. 1t is q
miles long and IA miles wide at
It's broadest point.
(The Greek Legation in Sofia,
Bulgaria, said it had been in
formed that two italian divisions
about $4,000 men-were sur
rounded south of Argirocastro, in
the Central Pindus sectorD
3-Pronged Drive Begun.
While the civilian population cele-
brated what was termed Greece's
greatest military victory since the
hays of the anCients, the army
lighting entirely on Albanian soil
had started three-pronged drive.
The Greek forces we're drawing on
arge stores of guns and equipment
captured in KoritZa and it was re-
ported that italian tanks manned
by Greek crews we're being used in
the campaign in the north.
Oficials here expressed the view
that the recent victories give their
forces impressive strategic advan-
tages. They pointed out that while
Albania is almost all mountainous.
The river valleys-the only feasible
travel routes-run from the present
Greek positions straight into the
heart of Albania and thence to the
'Adriatic.
In Koritza the troops surrendered
The task of policing the city to $50
sendarmes. Their instructions were
10 restore civil life in the city to
normal as soon as possible.
Many civilians who fed to the
mountains while the Italians and
Greeks struggled for possession Of
Albania's second largest city were
kaid to be returning to their homes.
In the north cavalry and highland
Infantry regiments. flushed with
their victory at Koritza over the
of six Fascist divisions
|of at least 72.000 men. smashed on to
the west and northwest, harassing
the Italians, who were falling back
toward Pogradetz, on Lake Ochrida.
10 miles to the north. The Italians
were reported in danger of losing
contact with their flank troops.
Albanian Towns Taken
Midway in the 100-mile battle line
the Pindus region-the Greeks
were said to have captured the
Albanian frontier towns of Erseka
and Borova and to be moving in
force westward along the deep
mountain valleys leading to the
heart of the country.
Another Greek column was report
ed to have dislodged the last of the
Italians from the Southern Greek
border town of Filiates, in the Epirus
sector, and launched drive north
ward.
In Athens tonight King George is
sued a general order to the troops,
saying
when responding to the call of
the country you took arms to re-
pulse the aggressor I was convinced
that you would show yourselves
worthy of the expectations of the
nation and myself. I'm glad it
didn't take long to justify my con-
viction and prove to the world that
the Greece of today is not I'M
worthy of it's ancestors