THE REBELLION IN GREECE

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21415, 6 March 1935, Page 11

THE REBELLION IN GREECE

i SITUATION GRAVER | | CRETE CONTROLLED BY REBELS SEVEN LOYAL WARSHIPS NEARLY READY (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION —BY ELECTRIC TfiLEGEAPH —COPYRIGHT.) (Received March 5, 5.5 p.m.) ATHENS, March 4. The situation in Greece is generally regarded as graver, although | the Government claims that it has regained control of practically the whole of Macedonia. Crete, however, is now virtually controlled by M. Venizelos, who is described by M. Tsaldaris (Prime Minister) as the "pirate hero." I The Government's activities I against the rebel fleet will soon be J increased by the seven remaining loyal warships, which the insurgents partially disabled before their dei parture for Crete. Repairs to these are expected to be completed to-day. M. Tsaldaris says the rebellion will be crushed in such a way that it will be impossible for it to happen again. "M. Venizelos respects the people's wishes only when his Government is in power," he said. From Cannes it is reported that General Nicholas Plastiras has disappeared. It is not clear whether he has left France.

In pursuance of the Government's concerted plans for combined naval and aerial action against the rebel fleet in default of an unconditional surrender, two destroyers left to-day for Crete. Five of 22 bombing aeroDlanes departed in the afternoon to attack the mutineers, who, apparently, are wavering, inasmuch as the newspaper "Typos" states that 25 of the Giogis AverofTs sailors were shot and thrown overboard for broaching peace suggestions. It adds that a rebel warship is ablaze. Between the Milos and Crete lighthouses, on the Macedonian coast, lanterns were extinguished in order to hamper the mutineers' movements. Salonica Harbour was closed all night. AH maritime and aerial connexions between Italy and Greece are suspended

j Athenian householders have been I ordered to dismantle their wireless ! ; erials. The authorities seized an i -irmoured car belonging to M. Venl- | v.elns and are rounding up M. Ladas, !a member of the last Venizelos | Cabinet. ' ' Flamboyant posters order the : 1930-32 classes, who were called to ! the colours, to report immediately ; The Government renorts that all is ' quiet in Salonica. Eastern Thrace. I -inri Macedonia j A Cannes report says that Gen- ; Tal Plastiras entered Italy. Presumably he intends to join M. Vcni- | ?clr-s at Crete. ! ATTEMPT TO SEIZE i ! SAMOS ISLAND GARRISON LOYAL FIERCE FIGHTING IN MACEDONIA (Received March 5, 11 p.m.) ATHENS, March 4. General Condylis has taken commond in Salonica. He has issued a proclamation appealing to the loyalty of the soldiers. Venizelists attempted to seize Samos, but the island garrison was Joyai, and arrested the rebel leaders. Three bombing aeroplanes returned at (3.45 p.m. and reported two hits on the AverofTs stern with 2501b bombs, causing a fire. Four other bombs, apart from range finders, fell into the sea. The intention was to disable and not to sink the cruiser. A message from Belgrade says that cannon fire in Macedonia was heard in Jugoslav border towns. Travellers from Greece report that the rebels have a strong force in Macedonia under General Kammenes. Fierce fighting continues. FORBIDDEN TO USE BASE AIR ROUTE ALTERED LONDON, March 4. Because of the revolution the Greek Government has forbidden Imperial Airways machines to use the regular flying-boat harbour at Mirabella. Imperial Airways, Ltd., has the motor-yacht Imperia permanently stationed there to act as a fuelling base, and fear that the rebels might commandeer the Imperia and her petrol supplies has caused this prohibition. Athens, however, can be used as before. Arrangements are now being made hurriedly for flyingboats in the Empire service to descend at the small Greek island of Kasteloryzo, 75 miles south-west of Rhodes. Two .flying-boats in the Africa, India, and Australia services were at Brindisi to-day awaiting instructions to avoid the revolutionary area in view of the danger that the rebels might shoot them in mistake for Greek Government aeroplanes. They will now leave to-morrow via Athens and Kasteloryzo, but they would in any case be delayed 24 hours because of a landslide on the railway by which mails are carried from Paris to Brindisi.