Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-12-23
Important Base
Is Occupied,
Greeks Claim
Chimoro Captured
In Powerful Push
Toward VuIonu
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
ATHENS, Dec. 23.-The Greek
Army occupied the Strategically i'm
portant Albanian coastal town OF
Chimara. Premier Gen. John Me-
taXas announced today, after crush
ing an Italian attempt to halt the
advance toward Valona, less than
80 miles farther up the coast.
Victory in the week-long battle
for this italian supply base between
Valona and Porto Edda, it was re-
ported, came when the Italians
withdrew to avoid being cut off by
Greek forces which threatened to
encircle the town.
In taking Chimara from picked
italian troops holding strongly for
titled positions, the Greeks claimed
the capture of the $3.50 Battalion of
Fascist Militia, made up of 800 men
and 80 officers.
Great quantities of war materials
wUere said to have been taken.
Disorderly Flight Reported.
The Italians we're reported in dis
orderly flight toward Valona, pur-
sued by Greek motorized column
Greek military sources said posses
sion of Chimara opened the way
for the counterinvaders to advance
swiftly toward the, Italian-held port
over a good coastal highway.
At the same time, the R. A. F.
command reported big air battle
Saturday over Argirocastro, Greek
held Albanian stronghold, in which
it said the British flyers shot down
at least eight Italian planes and
lost only two themselves, although
outnumbered more than to /.
The Italian attack, by so fighters,
it said, came after nine R. A. F.
fighters had intercepted fighter
escorted Italian bomber formations
over the town.
The communique also reported
r. A. F. attacks yesterday on oil
wells at Kucova, in Central Albania,
and said "all bombs fell in the tar
get area" despite italian aerial and
ground Qe1enSe IRE.
Reported Skirting Chimara.
The Greeks earlier had reported
skirting Chimara and said their
troops were fighting forward toward
the port of Valona, on the Adriatic,
less than 80 miles up the coast.
A Greek spokesman said then
that Chimara was under absolute
control of our artillery" and the
Greek forces were reported shoot
ing the works" to keep the italians
in retreat.
Twenty miles to the northeast, on
q second road to Valona, the Greeks
claimed brilliant successes" in a
"very large scale" battle for control
of the mountainous Tepeleni-
Klisura region.
The Greek spokesman declared the
italians were smashed back there
with heavy losses after determined
stand of nearly a week.
Regiment Cut to Pieces.
Other reports last night said one
C1lOlSC L doSloO lSSlIllCllU 1ldu DcCll
cut to pieces by the latest fierce
Greek assault near Tepeleni and
that two whole battalions were sur
rounded.
Our army is advancing steadily
and securely" the spokesman said.
In the coastal sectors the enemy
offered stiff resistance and
tried to maintain himself in strongly
fortified positions protected by
barbed-Wire entanglements, but has
been unable to succeed.
1.-THE enemy has abandoned these
positions ana is retreating.
"Chimara is under absolute con-
troll of our artillery.
In the Tepelini-Klisura region
enemy units consisting of choice
troops offered strong resistance, but
have been unable to check our ad-
vance. The enemy suffered heavy
losses and abandoned much ma
terial."
Exact Positions Withheld.
OF the Greek drives toward Ell
basani and the Albanian capital
Tirana, from the northern wing OF
the battlefront the spokesman de-
clared:
more northward, where Alpine
units are fighting, our troops ad-
vanced and occupied heights anc
villages"
The exact positions of Greek ad-
vance units in this sector were not
disclosed.
A communique issued today by
the Greek high command said two
lieutenant colonies were among new
prisoners taken by the Greeks, re-
ported to have captured approx
mately 1000 Italians in the last
seven days despite extreme cold anc
heavy snow which hampered oper.
atoms.
Weather over the week end was
improved.
No air raids were reported on
Greece yesterday, but there were
accounts of intensive air activity
over the battlefront.
The Greeks and British Royal Air
Force units operating with them re-
ported shooting down at least 1o
italian planes and damaging two
others badly.