Evening star., 1940-12-04
Greeks PRESSING
Hard Against
z Italian Bases
Argirocostro, Porto
Eddu Under Attack;
Collapse Reported
BY the Associated Press.


BY the Associated Press.
ATHENS, Dec. 4.-Greek forces
were reported today to be pressing
hard against the Italian defenses Of
Porto Edda and Argirocastro, Al-
bania, where resistance was said to
be collapsing, with capture of both
cities expected at any moment.
Earlier a Greek spokesman de-
clared that Fascist troops were fall
ing back fast in the region of Porto
Edda, the Italians southernmost
port of entry into Albania, and that
Greek advance units were within a
mile and a quarter of the city
CThe Italian high command,
however, declared today that its
troops held their positions against
heavy, artillery-supported attacks
and in some sectors had counter
attacked
Other Greek forces at the op-
posite end of the Albanian battle
front, were said TO be driving stead.
lily through -blanketed noun
tains toward Elbasani and the AL
banian capital, Tirana.
Road Placed Under Fire.
In the area of Argirocastro Greek
artillery was said to have neutral
lied Italian resistance by placing
under fire the road running north
east from Porto Edda inland
North of the OstrovitZa Mountains
in the central sector new positions
were said to have been occupied by
the Greeks in their counter invasion
of Albania. An Athens spokesman
said they set up field pieces and
shelled Italian emplacements.
Heavy and medium bombers Of
the Greeks were reported exception
ally active yesterday, facilitating
ground operations. They were said
to have bombed heavily Italian COL
umns and other Fascist targets in
the Berati and Valona areas, despite
strong anti-aircraft fire and fighter
opposition.
Other bomber formations attacked
Fascist camps near Elbasani and in
the valley of the Shkumbi River.
which runs past Elbasani TO the sea.
Hits were described as of great
importance" and all Greek aircraft
were said to have returned safely to
bases.
r. A. F. Claims Successes.
The British Royal Air Force said
its toll Of Italian planes mounted.
An r. A. F. communique declared:
Reports received confirm that in
addition to two Italian aircraft de-
stroyed by our bomber and fighter
formations December 2, two other
enemy aircraft also were shot down.
In the Premet area our fighters in
tercepted two reconnaissance air
craft and they were destroyed"
The Athens spokesman also cred
tied the Greeks with new gains in
their efforts to encircle Argirocastro
about 20 miles northeast of Porto
Edda-and said heights northeast
of Libohovo, 6 miles southeast of
Argirocastro, had been seized from
the Italians.
The high commands communique
on action at the opposite end of the
battlefront-in the push toward Ell
basani-said only:
In the PogradetZ region. We cap
tured new heights after fierce fight
ing. Prisoners were taken, and au-
tomato weapons, howitzers, and
three guns fell into our hands"
Right Wing Pushed Ahead.
The spokesman, describing opera
tions in that sector, declared the
Greek right wing pushed forward
despite snow and bad weather north
west of Moskopolis, dislodging Ital-
ians from heights there.
Dispatches from the Yugoslav
frontier indicated the Greeks had
reached the Devol Valley north
west of Moskopolis. which would
put them within 40 miles of FL
basani.
Reports from the same sources
last night said another column
had driven italian Bersaglieri
troops from Mumulishta, Just
north of Pogradetz. which would
put this drive within As miles of
Elbasani by road)
In the center OF the battlefront,
near Premet, the Greeks we're re-
ported to have cut to pieces one of
Italy'S picked companies, and then
captured two officers and what was
left of the company.
The spokesman said Greeks on
this front also seized the plateau
of Platovouni, crushing strong
enemy resistance"
Greek communiques said civilians
were killed in italian bombings of
Prevenna, Philiatra, and the island
of Levkas, and that Greek planes
successfully bombed columns and
storehouses behind the enemy lines"
A Reuters, British news agency,
dispatch from LONDON quoted the
Athens radio as saying 604 persons
had been killed and SOTO wounded
in Italian air raids on "undefended"
towns and villages in the first month
OF the Greek-Italian conflict.
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Heaviest Christmas