REBELS FLEE IN DISORDER

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21420, 12 March 1935, Page 11

REBELS FLEE IN DISORDER

OPERATIONS HAMPERED BY WEATHER OLD BATTLESHIP READY FOR SEA (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—BY ELECTRIO TELEGRAFH —COPYRIGHT.) (Received March 11, 11.10 p.m.) LONDON, March 11. Sir Percival Phillips, in a message to the "Daily Telegraph" from Athens, says a general offensive by Government forces began early in the morning. General Condylis reports that the rebels are throwing down their arms and fleeing in disorder. Snow is thick, and a mist reduced the visibility to 100 yards. Venizelist deserters are telling mournful tales of privations due to lack of food. The plain where the operations are taking place is deep in mud, so that the Government forces must move slowly. Athens received the •news of the Government victory in Macedonia with relief. The capital so far has been entirely calm. The response of volunteer soldiers to the Government's call is almost embarrassing. They have been sent forward to reinforce the Salonika front, enduring severe weather with remarkable cheerfulness. Many are still in civilian clothes, without overcoats, and even bareheaded. The Government has issued reassuring statements that no innocent persons will be punished merely because of their political opinions, but there have been many arrests. The Government is now ready to take the offensive against the fugitive ships. The old battleship Kilkis has been recommissioned. It has four 12-inch guns against the AverofTs nine-inch weapons. It is seaworthy and has an efficient crew The Government also has seven destroyers. six torpedo boats, and two submarines. The "Daily Telegraph's" Belgrade correspondent estimates the opposing armies in the Struma area at about. 40.000 each. Near Corinth Loyalist mobs attacked and tried to massacre a frainload of 200 Venizelist prisoners. AN ADVENTUROUS JOURNEY CORRESPONDENTS ESCAPE FKOM GREECE (Received March 11, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 11. Mr Selkirk Panton, a correspondent for the "Daily Express," in a message from the Jugoslavian border, says that after an 80-mile dash at night from Salonika in a ramshackle motor-car, afoot and on a mule, he succeeded in escaping from Greece. The car's brakes failed, and the driver and he sprang free. The car crashed into a deep ravine. A mule ride through the mountains finally brought them to the frontier. With other foreigners, he had virtually been a prisoner in Greece, unable to telegraph or telephone to the outside world. "This," he says, "is an open confession of the seriousness of the situation. It is believed in Salonika that the Government has completely lost its head. The British Minister at Athens protested energetically about the decree which delays or prevents the departure of British subjects. "Having lost the fleet, the Government now fears to send aeroplanes, lest they should desert to the rebels. General Metaxas, temporary Minister for War, is a keen monarchist, and it is believed that he is using the revolution as an opportunity to restore the monarchy. "The names of the Duke and Duchess of Kent are mentioned in Athens as the possible King and Queen."