Evening star., 1940-11-21
Greeks on Outskirts Of Koritzo,
Italians Are Reported in Flight;
Troops Also Near Argirocostro
Further Advance in
Area Northwest of
Konitzo Claimed
By the Associated Press.

ATHENS. Nov. 21-Greek forces
were reported to have reached the
outskirts Of the besieged Italian base
city of Koritza in Albania today
At the same time, in the coastal
sector of the fighting zone, Greek
columns were said to be marching
rapidly on another important Ital-
Ian base. ArgirOcastro, also in AL
bania
Italian resistance in that zone
was reported to have collapsed al
most totally.
Latest information from the front
said the Greeks were within miles
of Argirocastro. which is said to
rank equally with Koritza in stra-
tegic value,
1t was on these two cities that
I the Italians had based their drive
into Greece Huge stores OF war
materials had been assembled in
both cities.
Hasty Retreat Reported.
A thrust through the center of
' the Italian lines, putting the Fascist
forces to hasty fight at a point 6
miles within Albania, was the pre-
vious high spot Of Greek successes
reported today all along the 100
mile battlefront from the Ionian Sea
' to KOrltZa.
Observers said the Italians were
abandoning the city and all outgo-
Ing roads were under heavy fire from
Greek artillery.
A Greek government spokesman
said the central break-through oc-
cured at Mertzani Albania, west OF
the Aoos River and northwest of
kOnitZa, Greece.
Leaving munitions. arms, tanks,
automobiles and laggard troopers
behind. the Italians are retreating
so rapidly that the bayonet-brand-
ishlng Greeks are hard put to keep
up with them, he said.
The Greek high command listed
200 automobiles among the booty
captured The Athens radio pre-
dicted a decisive phase of the war
was imminent
Morava SUBMITS Declared Taken.
The Greek command announced
earlier its hardy mountaineer SOL
dlers had won the SUBMITS Of the
Morava range southeast OF KOrltZa
and were pressing down the western
slopes on that besieged Italian base.
On the southernmost front. near
the sea, the only place where the
Italian invaders remain on Greek
soil, successful progress was re-
ported without details.
The forceful Greek counterof-
fensive in the center. along the only
road in that region, was declared to
have followed the virtual cessation
of Italian air bombardment, which
previously had slowed the Greek
advance.
The Greek command said the
Italians bombed two cities in EpiruS
and Thessaly yesterday killing a
few persons, but that was all. The
Greeks own aviation was asserted
to have bombed and strafed the
retreating Italians and TO have at
tackled the airdrOmp at ArgirOcaStrO
Claim Planes Shot Down.
British Royal Air Forces which
are aiding the Greeks, reported that
they alone had shot down II italian
planes in "a hours.
1T was reported in the YugO-
slav border town of BitOlj that
British planes also bombarded
Koritza while Greek field guns
maintained a terrific fire into the
town and that the italians ap-
peared ready TO abandon the
place.
another report from Bitolj
said six bombs were dropped near
the village OF BruSnik south of
Bitolj. today in the fifth bombing
of Yugoslav territory since the
Greek-Italian phase Of Europe's
war opened. The planes were not
identified. No damage was re-
pOrtedD
The Greek spokesman also said
the Italians were having difficulties
with the conquered Albanians. A
battalion of Albanians in the Italian
central forces revOlted and had to
be disarmed, he asserted.