1939-04-08 — Page 24

ITALIANS SWOOP DOWN ON ALBANIA

(Continued from Page 1) info the sea twice by Albanian forces.

says that the first landings between 5.30 and 6 a.m. were repelled after fierce fighting. Reuter states that STREET FIGHTING

the morale of the Albanian troops Meanwhile the shelling of Duraz-and civil population was reported zo continued, while street fighting to be excellent. occurred between Italian troops and Albanian gendarmes, soldiers and volunteers in Valona following the landing there.

Three Italian divisions, number- ing some 35,000 men, are believed to be participating in the actual fighting. Albania has a standing: army of about 12,000 men, and is hardly in a position to resist for long, though 26,000 troops have been mobilised.

· ITALIAN: ULTIMATUM: DEFINITEDLY REJECTED---

London, To-day. Some confusion, at first existed as to whether Albania and Italy

patched up

their quarrel diplomatically. --

had

Italy had accepted the Albanian A report from Tirana stated that

Albanian delegation had counter-proposals, and that an gone to Durazzo to arrange the cessation of hostilities.

The semi-official

Rome agency reporting the landing at Valona Durazzo, San Giovanni and Dime-Cabinet meeting in dun, says: "There was no reaction worthy of special mention,"

ORDERS TO PLANES

However, following an Albanian Palace, the Chamber and Govern

the Royal

ment unanimously rejected the Italian ultimatum.

In Rome it is announced that King Zog, the Government and the march into the interior has be- the Diplomatic Corps are all in gun. Four hundred planes are Tirana. The Italian Minister and participating in the invasion. The the staff of his Legation are also airmen have been ordered not to at-in, Tirana, and it was supposed tack inhabited centres and to spare that negotiations between the two the population.

Governments had not been broken off.

of

Throughout the day Italian bom- ber squadrons flew over Albaniar territory dropping pamphlets an nouncing the disembarkatibn troops and warning the population not to resist under the threat of "atrocious mil'tary measures.”

The pamphlets called on the people to surrender to the Italian King-Emperor.

HEAVY FIGHTING Heavy fighting is taking place in the town of Asingjini, where "blood is flowing in streams."

Reuter's correspondent at Tirana

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lian Embassy in London late yes- terday afternoon stated that Italian troops are now proceeding into the interior and are meeting with slight

the Albanian army is offering resistance from irregular bands, but

opposition in any sector.

no

:

Italian planes are dropping hùn- dreds of thousands of pamphlets stating that the Italian troops will be withdrawn as soon as the dis-

the past few days have disappeared. turbances 'which occurred during

The communique adds: "No bombs have been dropped on the civilian population."

ear-

TIRANA BROADCAST ́ The statement regarding the Al- banian Army is not borne out in a semi-official statement issued lier by the Albanian press bureau in Tirana, which declared: "No Italian soldier has been able to re- UNITE AND FIGHT

main on our territory owing to the Meanwhile the Tirana short ferocious resistance of our troops wave station is continually broad- and the casting in five languages. It ap-morale remains excellent in spite of Albanian people whose peals to Albanians to unite and the inequality of the opposing for- fight to the last drop of blood.

ces." Reuter. In Rome it is said that a mission of plenipotentiaries sent by King

"DEFENDING INCH BY INCH"

London, To-day. Zog conferred with General Guz- The Albanian Legation an zenf and submitted proposals from nounces: "At 1.30 p.m. after stiff King Zog. These have been trans-resistance by the Albanian forces mitted to Rome. Reuter.

London, To-day.

Shengjin, Durazzo, Valona and Santi Quarranti, had fallen to A communique issued by the Ita-the aggressors.

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"The gendarmerie and civilian pó- pulation continue to defend their country inch by inch."

In Rome, an official communique issued late yesterday afternoon states that the cities of Santi Quar- ranti, Valona, Durazzo and Giovanni di Medua have been completely oc- cupied. Reuter.

170 WARSHIPS OFF ALBANIAN: COAST

Belgrade, To-day.' There are 170 Italian warships off the Albanian coast, according to an Albanian radio broadcast picked up here.

Of these, '75 are standing off Santi Quaranti, 40 off Valonă, BE off Durazzo, 28 off San Giovann! and Santi de Medus and about ten

off Bistifal,

+

!

According to the same source Durazzo has been shelled four times, and San Giovanni and Medua completely destroyed.

The Italian expeditionary force is estimated to number 100,000 by look your best, at the the Albanian radio station. same time allowing per-an appeal to the "generous French

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Paris, To-day. French official circles are closely watching developments in Albania.

While there is anxiety, it appears improbable that any steps will be taken at this particular juncture.

It is pointed out that juri- dically Italy is granted the right by France and Britain to form a protectorate over Al- bania, and no vital interests are involved in the present

move.

Although the fact that the Ital'an occupation of Albania would turn the Adriatic into a purely Italian lake, and is technically a breach of under- standing, it is also pointed out that this is capable of turning against the interests of Ger- many herself were any attempt. to be made on Trieste.

Anxiety is fe't, however, whether the Albanian move is not the beginning of an Axis plan for a comb'ned 'drive into the Eastern Mediterranean and beyond.

If so, the situation is re- garded as extremely serious, - : although tempered by Colonel Beck's successful visit to London.

If it is only a gesture on the part of Mussolini for the sake of prestre. it is considered that the Western Powers must wait and see whether Hitler and Mussolini have been im pressed by the Anglo-French co-operation or are determined to go headlong forward in pursuit of their purpose. Reuter.

According to latest reports the Italian attack on Tirana has been at least temporari- ly brought to a standstill.

Official reports slate that Italian troops reached a point within eleven miles of the capital, but we later driven back,

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