GREEK REVOLT

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21419, 11 March 1935, Page 11

GREEK REVOLT

LOYALISTS CONFIDENT STRONG OFFENSIVE PLANNED MILITARY OPERATIONS IN FLOODED COUNTRY (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH—COPYRIGHT.) (Received March 11, 1 a.m.) ATHENS, March 10. Three aeroplanes, after dropping a proclamation in Crete appealing to the Cretans not to recognise the rebels, bombed the barracks at Reth and Candia. It is claimed that they also hit an oil ship entering Candia harbour. General George Kondylis has issued a communique stating, that in spite of bad weather, 20 aeroplanes heroically bombed a rebel concentration and the railway station at the Serres. They also reconnoitred the Serres plain, the greater part of which is flooded. The mutineers are stated to be in a lamentable condition, but the loyalists, who are in excellent spirits, are now trying to discover a way of crossing the flooded river Struma. "We are fighting both nature and our miserable adversaries," he said. General Kondylis is superintending the final arrangements of an offensive for which an artillery bombardment has begun in readiness for an attack to-morrow. M. Tsaldaris (Prime Minister) told journalists that the attack would not be carried out if the insurgents laid down their arms, as is probable, owing to the continued desertions. The rebels, however, maintain that their strength is 100.000 men. M. Venizelos, broadcasting from the cruiser Georgio Averoff, declared that he will hold M. Alexander Zaimis. M. Tsaldaris, and General Kondylis as personally responsible in the event of the fleet being harmed. M. Tsaldaris announces that telegrams from the Greek colonies in New York and elsewhere denounce the rebels and demand the most rigorous repression. The French cruisers Foch and Tourville have arrived at Piraeus, joining Italian and other French and British ships there. M. Nicholas Plastiras has applied for a Jugoslavian passport to enable him to reach Macedonia. ADVANCE TOWARDS SALONIKA REBELS HOLD THRACE (Received March 10, 5.5 p.m.) SOFIA, March 8. The rebels are reported to have taken possession of almost all of Thrace and are advancing towards Salonika under the command of a son of M. Venizelos. The Greek frontier is closed but no attempt has been made to enter Bulgaria. The Greek frontier guards display divided sympathies. EFFECT OF REVOLT 1 IJEPERCt'SSIONS IN NEARBY STATES LONDON. March 8. The "News-Chronicle," in a leader, urges the prompt summoning'of the Council of the League of Nations to promote maintenance of peace between Turkey and Greece. A message from Constantinople states that the Government maintains its impartiality, refusing to take sides, though it is watching the attitude of Bulgaria. The Greek Minister at Geneva, in drawing the attention of the League to the grave danger to peace in the Balkans caused by the concentration of Bulgarian troops on the frontier, said it was feared that Bulgaria may support the rebels. A Geneva message states that the Turkish Minister reiterates his country's pacific intentions. He fails to understand the allegations made by Dr. Nicholas Antonofl (Bulgarian delegate to the League), and explains that the only military activities are those of recruits undergoing training. The policy of Turkey regarding the Balkan Entente is absolute maintenance of the status quo. This statement has greatly eased the situation. Dr. Antonoff now declares that Bulgaria does not doubt Turkey's pacific intentions. The Constantinople correspondent of "The Times" says the Yavuz (formerly the Goeben) and other warships have left for the Dardanelles to protect islands adjacent to Turkey. VOLUNTEER NURSES SOCIETY WOMEN ACTING (Received March 10, 7 p.m.) ATHENS, March 9. Madame Tsaldaris has dispatched two ambulances to Macedonia. Many society women are volunteering as nurses. A report from Sofia states that Greek Government aircraft are attacking Demirhissar preliminary to a new offensive against the rebels, who are reported to have mobilised all men between 20 and 38 years of age in their area. M. VENIZELOS REPORTED WOUNDED ATHENS, March 8. The Jugoslav steamer Vitsovar intercepted a wireless announcement that a destroyer was taking M. Venizelos, rebel leader, to Alexandria. He was seriously wounded. A later message states that the report is not believed in Athens as M. Venizelos' son has heard no news.