REVOLT IN GREECE

Hokitika Guardian, 11 September 1926, Page 3

REVOLT IN GREECE

BY ATHENS GUAM). MO CASUALTIES. [Australian <fc N.Z. Cabin Association.J LONDON, September 10. Fierce lighting lias been in progress in the streets of Athens in consequence of the revolt of the republican guards. ft is reported that forty have been hilled and one 'hundred wounded. It is reported also that the Guards surrendered after a battle which lasted for several hours. ORDER RESTORED. ATHENS, September Ml. Order has been restored. There was relatively little bloodshed in view of the extent of the fighting and subsequent rioting. General Kondylis, the Premier, in the course of a statement justifying the measures of the Government, said: “1 am not bloodthirsty, but circumstances rendered my Government’s measures necessary.” DETAILS OF THE FIGHTING. LONDON, September 10. Greece is again the throes of anarchy.

A fierce battle in the streets of Athens yesterday was reported. The disorder still prevails. This morning different reasons are given for the outbreak. On one hand, it is slated that the Republican Guards, a body that is independent of the regular army, and ■which was raised by Genera 1 Pangalos (late Dictator) in order to support his dictatorship, revolted and demanded that General Kondylis (the new Premier) should relinquish power.

On the other hand, the official version is that General Kondylis’s Government demanded the disbandment of the Republican Guards, they taking the view that the existence of these Guards implied the idea of a military Junta.

Colonels Dermilis and Vervas, commanding tlio Guards categorically refused to obey this order. Tlie 11 Daily Express’s”’ Athens correspondent states: 11 General Kondylis ordered the loyal troops to surround the Republican Guards’ barracks and to mako them prisoners. The Republican Guards, however, had time to advance almost to the Royal Palace with their tanks. A violent conflict occurred in the Boulevard Kefissa, in which, several batteries on Mount Lvkabous took part. The Republican Guards eventually retreated to their barracks. Colonel Dermilis was wounded, and was made a prisoner. Crowds of the citizens joined in the lighting, apparently without their understanding the issue. The mob captured a Government tank in front of the. Hotel Res Postes, and they took it to the Place Du Da Constitution, crying: “ Down with the Military Dictatorship. Long live the Army! Long live the people!” A number of military detachments were surrounded and disarmed by the crowds. There were many fierce isolated conflicts, ft is reported that forty were killed and one hundred wounded. The battle lasted for several hours, before the Republican Guards were made prisoners. During a hitter altercation on Tuesday General Zorvas told General Kondylis: " ft is I who made you President of the Council. D: is T who will unseat you when I wish.” Yesterday Colonel Zorvas tried to make good his threat. He sent an ultimatum to General Kondylis (who is President). The General’s answer was to order the , loyal troops to disband the Guards. The Exchange Agency’s Athens correspondent confirms the mutiny of two battalions of the Republican Guards, and says it has been suppressed. Ho states: "The killed, and wounded of both sides amount to about forty and one hundred respectively. The city is now normal. In suppressing the mutiny the regulars employed artillery and machine guns. President Koudouriotis returned from Hydra, this evening.” It was previously reported that President Kondouriotis went home to Hydra owing to his having a disagreement with General Kondylis. THE OFFICI AL VERSION. ATHENS, September 9. An armed 1110 b attacked the Central Telegraph Office. The captain of the Military Guard was wounded. Tt is feared that there were many casualties in the streets. A state practically of 'anarchy now prevails. Crowds are mobbing isolated soldiers and have seized a number of tanks. A semi-official message stated that < after a few hours’ skirmishing, in - which there were a few casualties, the Republican Guard, were surrounded and surrendered unconditionally. Tt added that those responsible for this revolt will stand trial. Tt is further added that the attitude of the authorities is applauded by tbe people, although some Communists attempted to foment trouble, but failed completely. The suppression of the Guard 1 should, it is said, end the military anarchy anti enable tlie eountrv to return to tlie enjoyment of constitutional liberty. Tlie Republican Guard was a separate force, independent of the regular army, and was founded by General Pangalos to support bis dictatorship. When tlie Government order to lay down its arms was received tlie Guard refused to obey. Tlie Government therefore had to enforce its authority calling upon the regular army.