TROUBLED GREECE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 8, 7 August 1946, Page 6

TROUBLED GREECE

LOOKS TO THE FUTURE Troubled still rocking from bitter internal disputes left in the wake of five years' of war and occupation, looks to the future with misgivings as she appraises her geographical position relative to the Dardanelles and Britain’s indispensable Suez and as the only Balkan State not dominated by Russia. Only four hours by bomber from Suez and three from the Dardanelles, where Soviet Russia is manoeuvering for full or semi-control, direct influence over this rocky little country could be one of the most sought-after prizes in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Already Russia has asked for a complete naval “refitting station” in the Dodecanese, and at the London meeting of the Security Council the Soviet demanded immediate withdrawal of British troops from Greece. Mocsow radio has often expressed concern with the type of “democracy” prevailing in Greece, and her satellites to the north, Albania and Yugoslavia, have been acutely interested through Press and. radio in the “unfriendly monar-cho-Fascist reactionaries” seeking control of Greece. A recent statement issued by the Greek Communist Party and the E.A.M. described the Greek Government as “monar-cho-Fascist.” Bound strongly with Britain, no major political or diplomatic decision has been made in Greece since its liberation 18 months ago without previous approval from London. The Greek army, air force, navy and State police are being trained by the British. A force of approximately 35,000 well-equipped British soldiers is now in Greece. ' Left Wing and Communist resentment at the presence of the British has never been officially echoed by any of the. seven Greek Governments since liberation. *

' British influence, hightened by the recent victory of the Populists, far outweighs any other, foreign influence in Greece at the preesnt. Greece, however, is surrounded by water and Russian satellites, except for a 50-mile border with Turkey in Eastern Thrace. She is already at odds with Albania over the Northern Epirus question and Bulgaria has clamoured for the seapart of Alexandropoulis. In Western Macedonia below the Yugoslav border a movement for an autonomous State, with Salonika as the capital, was encouraged by Belgrade several months ago. United States Army engineers last year completed an imposing two-way airfield at Hassani, ten kilometres from Athens. They also built excellent all-weather landing strips at Patras, Northern Peloponese, and at Heraclion, Crete. British forces took over the Heraclion strip, where bitter fighting took place in May, 1941, during the German airborn invasion, immediately after it was evacuated by the Allied Mission for the Observance of Greek Elections. The British moved from Candia, where they maintained another strip. Another good air base is located at Eleufsis, 20 kilometres from Athens. The giant grass airfield at Salonika is controlled by the British.

And all are within easy flying distance of the prized Dardanelles and indispensable Suez.