FURTHER GAINS REPORTED

Chronicle (Levin), 9 August 1948, Page 5

FURTHER GAINS REPORTED

Received Sundav, 7 p.m. ATHENS, August 7. General James van Fleet, miiitary liead of tlie American Aid Mission, said General Markos had "lost the game. " A Greek communique claimed fresh gains in the Xestoriau area of the Grammos Range and said villages evacuated by the guerrillas in the battle area were deserted and hundreds of guerrillas were wandering on the wooded eastern slopes of the range. The Assoeiated Press correspondent savs a Greek Army General Staff spokesman conliiined that Generai Markos's headquarters had fled i.n Xikolitsa in Albania. IMarkos had between 8000 and 10,000 troops still in the Greek mountains and because of the diftieult terrain, it would talce tlie Governnient troops at leasf .fe weeks t-j clear tlie guerrillas out Of the arq^...- - Mr. Dwiglit Griswold, Avho has c'on- ' cluded duty as chief. of the American Aid Mission to Greece, told Reuter 's Berlin correspondent that he was not satislied With the eooperation thc Greek Governnient had given tlie mission. The Governnient was unwi'ling to make "the tough economie decision" requiring more austerity for Ihe Greeks, which ivas necessary. Tlie outlook in Greece had greatly improved economically and militarily- ioi thd past--vear.