ARMY COMMANDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 October 1940, Page 5

ARMY COMMANDS

KING AND GENERALISSIMO GREECE NOT STANDING ALONE. DIPLOMATIC EXCHANGES. LONDON, October 28. The King of Greece has assumed command of all the armed forces. General Papagos, Chief of Staff, has been appointed generalissimo. He sent a message to the army expressing his confidence in Greece’s complete l victory. The Government has ordered newspapers’ not to publish news from Rome and Berlin. M. Politis, Greek Minister in Rome, has been recalled. Police in Alexandria are taking special precautions where incidents involving Greeks and Italians are feared under cover of the blackout. Greeks on receipt of news of the first air-raid alarm in Athens, crowded balconies, shouting: “Long live the King. Long live General Metaxas. Down with Italy.” The evacuation of 2500 British residents in Athens has been deferred pending Italy’s reply to General Metaxas's appeal to treat the capital as an open city. German air liners belonging to the Deutsche Lufthansa Company are help up at Tatoi airport. Greek ships throughout the world have been ordered not to proceed to French ports. The Greek Government has instructed vessels in the Pacific to go to British, Dutch or United States ports. Vessels in the Atlantic westbound have been ordered to go on, but east-bound vessels must make for a British port. Newspapers and radio in Berlin have not yet mentioned the Italian invasion of Greece. Reports from Athens give the gist of conversations held this morning between General Metaxas and the British Minister to Greece, Sir C. Palairet. General Metaxas received the British Minister after he had rejected the Italian ultimatum and had told the Italian Minister- that it was nothing less than a declaration of war. He informed Sir C. Palairet, and said: “In this unequal struggle with Italy, Greece calls for help from whoever is in a position to give it.” Sir C. Palairet assured General Metaxas that Britain would give Greece all the help in her power. A statement broadcast from the Athens wireless said: “Greece knows .that she will not stand alone. British forces are even now at hand.” After seeing the British Minister, Genera] Metaxas received the Ministers to Yugoslavia and Turkey and had 15 minutes’ telephone conversation with the Turkish President.

The Greek Minister in London paid a visit to the Foreign Office this afternoon, and saw Lord Halifax.