Evening star., 1940-12-11
Argirocastro' S Fall
Sets Stage for Big
Greek Offensive
ItoIiuns Desperately
Striving to Save
Something in Alboniu
By LELAND STOWE,

ent version represents one OF those
salvage operations which wartime
censorships sometimes require. 1t is
still possible, however, to say that
the seizure of Argirocastro has set
the stage for the major campaign
in the Central Albanian mountains
and that the preliminary phases of
the battles for Valona and Elbasani
are now progressing steadily.
In six short weeks these noun
tain-beating Greeks have swept
1taly's veteran divisions clean out
of all extreme Southern and Cen
trail Eastern Albania. The advances
they have made during the last 10
days over formidable heights in all
three Albanian war zones are little
short of phenomenal After seeing
these snowbound peaks and passes,
It seems almost unbelievable that
Greek soldiers have maintained
such a devastating pace and have
never been permanently arrested at
any point.
Trying to Stabilize Lines.
The Italians are now striving deS-
somewhere, hoping to save some
thing of Albania with the aid of
that country's cruel winter weather.
It is the Fascist Army'S principal
task to maintain a defense on its
outside semi-circle, beyond and
around the four Albanian towns of
Valona, Berati, Elbasani and Ti-
rana-the farther beyond, then the
better-and if this proves possible.
The only other important Albanian
center is Scutari, far to the north,
near Yugoslavia.
Thus, it may be said that the
struggle for the control of Albania
has now begun in earnest. In some
places the Italian retreat continues,
including the Fascist withdrawal
northWard from Argirocastro in the
general direction of the heights
around Tepeleni. The Greek ad-
vance into the extremely noun
famous region, straight west from
Koritza, is proceeding method
tcally.
In such wild terrain the front
IS so saWtoothed and irregular that
no precise lines can be described.
In addition, and in regard to all
sectors, the Greek high command
Is UNDERSTANDABLE reticent about
points taken until an objective of
some real Importance has been
reached and an operation completed.
This is why periods of localized
combat are bound to predominant
and pauses of considerable duration
without any specific and dramatic
news must be expected, given the
nature of this war.
To clarity this as much as linn
itations will permit, it is necessary
to remember that there are still
southern, central and northern zones
of hostilities in Albania. The first
is considerably south and west of
Valona. The second is somewhere
east of Berati, which lies almost
exactly in the geographic center of
Albania. The third extends over
high mountains somewhere to the
southwest and east of Elbasani.
Must Defend Valona.
In the southern zone, the Italians
must defend Valona in the noun
tains along the coast. miles to the
south, and on tumbling heights
which are numerous around Tepe-
leni. just where the Fascists are
making or will make stand only
their own, and the Greek commands
can say. But numerous heights of
$500 feet or more exist in this re-
gion, on both sides of the narrow,
gorged Drinos River. Wherever you
turn, in Albania, it seems amazing
that any troops, even troops as
valorous as the Greeks, can con-
tinue to advance.
In the central zones, mountains
rear themselves uninterruptedly all
the way from KoritZa toward Berati.
One mighty peak even touches over
1000 feet and others are almost as
high. Valleys are deep-cut and only
one road traverses vast area Most
of the fighting which occurs any,
where in this region will be cloaked
with anonymity, both for strategic
seasons on both sides and because
only soldiers can get anywhere near
the real front.
Since the Italians are on the de-
fensive, they are trying to hold ma
lures fortreSses of granite and snow
as far east of Berati as is possible.
This town is of Importance to them
because the main communication
line between Valona and Elbasani
runs near that point. But wherever
Greeks are fighting, the Italians big
job is to keep them off the heights
and the Greeks seem to take to the
loftiest ridges, like mountain goats.
1t seems pity that this kind of
fighting may never be witnessed and
reported as it deserves to be.
In the northern zone, mountains
of more than 5000 feet again pre-
dominate the entire region north
east of Koritza, almost to Elbasani.
There are two roads in different
river valleys. The snowbound peaks
and ranges are again of chief i'm
portance, for whoever holds the
heights will remain, or become,
masters of the towns below and
behind them.
Difficulties StupendOus.
1t is impossible to say just where
ttle llellIlIlS now RACES IN these
three war zones, and there are also
restrictions upon any detailed de-
scription of terrain anywhere near
the lines of combat. Nevertheless,
the Albanian war cannot be under
stood unless the country's mountain
Gus madness is kept in mind. In all
three war zones fighting now pro-
ceeds over serrated terrain where
difficulties are simply stupendous.
In these wild regions, problems
OF supply are staggering to con-
template and the strain upon the
physical endurance of troops can
scarcely be imagined. Albania's
ruthless winter weather will hence
forth operate as an unpredictable
factor and progress by either ad-
VerSary must be slow and Dainflll