Evening star., 1940-12-27
Fierce Battle Reported Raging
In K|isuro Sector of A|bonio
As Italians Take Stand at Pass
Operations Severely
Handicapped by
Snow and Cold
By the Associated Press.


ATHENS, Dec 27.-One OF the
fiercest battles of the Greek Italian
war was reported raging today in
the Klisura sector of Albania, where
the Italians were said to have con-
centrated huge reinforcmeentsl in an
effort to defend a vital mountain
pass gateway to the north and west.
A heavy snowstorm and bitter cold
weather severely handicapped mill
tary operations, but reports from the
front said fighting was developing on
an increasingly broad scale both be-
fore the pass itself and to the north
of KliSura, where the Greeks were
declared threatening to cut a high
way to Berati farther north.
Despite the determined Italian re-
sistance, the Greeks were said to
have captured new positions along
with italian prisoners and war ma
terials.
Advance Is Continued.
In the central sector, Greek mill
tary advices said bitter fighting con-
tinued throughout yesterday.
Greek forees continued to ad-
vance and undertook new offensive
against the enemy, who tried 10
resist in his defense line one dis
patch said.
THE aims of our troops were ac-
complished without sacrifice, whereas
the enemy suffered heavy losses IN
his effort to defend his ground mcn
by inch.
Fresh italian reinforcements lost
morale as soon as they realized the
Greek determination.
Another report described the pat
Gle in the Klisura sector as "ot eH-
ceptional Importance.
"Realizing the great Importance
d Klisura Pass. the italians con-
sentrated as many forces as they
ro,lld in their determination 10
Illustrate at any cost the plans OF
khe general staff" this account
went on.
with each passing day, however
the battle is turning to the aoVah-
tage of Greek troops"
Resistance Sitter.
In the coastal area, where the
Greeks are fighting toward tne VlCal
Albanian port of Valona, the GreeHs
renorted a continuing advance, out
acknowledged that there, too. the
italians were putting up stlf1er re-
sistance. They said there were IN
dications he Fascist forces were
preparing an elaborate defense OF
Valona
Fighting on the snow -carpeted
northern front was said to be pro-
crossing. with Greek infantry at
tacks ION a fairly large scale ana
with heavy artillery duels.
Captured Italian officers, talking
with correspondents at the front
said strong italian defenses stu lay
in the path of Greek forces bathing
IN the coast toward Valona. They
estimated that the Greek campaign
which began October % had cost
italy $4,000 wounded soldiers, but
made no estimate of the number OF
dead, saying only that the toll was
high. ;.
The Royal Air Force reported 1t
had carried out an attack on the
coastal town of Krionero, about five
miles south of Valona, bombing
warehouses, buildings and railway
lines. All British planes returned
safely, despite 10-minute encoun-
ter with nine enemy" fighters,
communique said.
Enemy Thrown Back.
The Greek spokesman said italian
troops suffered another defeat" IN
the sector north and northwest OF
the captured town of Chimara, which
is 30 miles south of Valona.
IAN attack on the part OF our
units resulted in the enemy beng
thrown back and in his abandoning
the line which he held and height
of considerable strategic import
ance," he asserted.
The spokesman said condltlons
IN the northern front were very
hard. There were snoWdrl1Is,
mist and extremely bitter cold.
Nevertheless, he added, the Greeks
advanced and occupied some VII
lagos" after local engagements.
Captured Fascist officers all spoke
of the bitter cold and prisoners
reaching Ioannina, Greece, from the
(see GREEK, Page A-l40