ANOTHER MASSACRE

Chronicle (Levin), 20 November 1946, Page 9

ANOTHER MASSACRE

Press Assn.

fireek Rebels Burn Village operations extended

By Telegraph

-Copyright

Received Wednesday, 10 a.m. ATHENS, Nov. 17. While armed bands are fighting on the Greek-Yugolav frontier, other mountain rebels are extending their area of operations to central Macedonia and now control 100 villages in the Grevena region. The bands are reported to be led by two former school masters. The rebels attacked a village near Kilkis, set fire to the school, church and houses, and massacred the inhabitants, Troops of the Tenth Greek Division, after a hard fight, chased the rebels from the Greek outpost of Notia, about three miles from the Yugoslav border. Groups fled into Yugoslavia and others towards the Mount Zena Forest. Artillery reinforcement have been ordered to the Lake Dogransko region, where the Greek and Bulgarian frontiers meet, and a new attack is feared. A Macedonian report states that some Greek soldiers who escaped from rebel captivity had seen uniformed Yugoslav soldiers among the rebels. Greek troops at Archangelos used heavy mortars and the troops pursued the attackers until they came up against a defence line manned by rebel reinforcements. The total strength of the rebel bands in all operations is estimated at 1500. The Police in Salonika arrested three persons who were preparing to depart to join the rebels. Other arrests were made in connection with the discovery of a recruiting centre in a village near Salonika. Athens newspapers report that 712 persons in a village west of Skra were burned to death, but no details were given. A Greek Army intelligence officer stated that Yugoslavia has five divisions along the Greek frontier.