Saturday 24 May 2014

Report of the Stefani Agency, October 26, 1940

(Published in Relazioni internazionali, 1940)

On October 26th the Stefani Agency issued the following press release from Tirana:

Tirana, October 26, 1940

This morning an armed Greek band attacked Albanian watchtowers with rifle shots and hand grenades near Coritza, more precisely in the area between posts 30 and 31, just south of the Kapestiza pass.

The prompt reaction of the Albanian patrol and the subsequent intervention of other units enabled the successful immediate repulsion of the enemy nucleus that had penetrated Albanian territory. Six of the Greek attackers were captured. Albanian losses are two dead and three wounded soldiers.

Yesterday evening three bombs exploded near the headquarters of the Italian Lieutenant-General at Porto Edda. Two persons were slightly wounded. The authorities are conducting an active search for the Greek or British agents who perpetrated the attack.

There are ongoing investigations into the two incidents. In the meantime, tranquility has been restored to the two areas.