VENEZELOS ATTACKED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 202, 8 June 1933, Page 5

VENEZELOS ATTACKED.

ONE HUNDRED SHOTS FIRED.* DUM-DUM BULLETS USED. (United Press Association —Copyright). (Reeived This Day, 9.15 a.m.) LONDON, June 7. The “Evening News” Athen’s correspondent says that M. Venizelos’s only injury is a slight cut on the face from broken glass. Two other bodyguards were wounded.

Madame Yenizelos w r as hit on the leg four times. There were fifteen bullet marks in her clothing.

Oyer one hundred shots were fired, half of them striking the car. The assassins used dum-dum bullets.

M. Veiiizelos had been repeatedly* warned of a plot, but he ignored the warnings, apart froih engaging a bodyguard.

CHASED FOR THREE MILES.

ASSAILANTS IN A LARGE CAR. (Received This Day, 11.5 a.m.) ATHENS, June 7. M Venizelos says that the occupants of a seven-seater car placed themselves between his own and his escort’s car and opened fire. “I took my wife in my arms and crouched on the floor. I asked her whether she was hit, and she replied c No,’ but I later saw blood on the floor of the car. I ordered the chauffeur to proceed at full speed-to Athens, but the assassins continued firing for three miles 1 .”

VENGEANCE FOR EXECUTIONS.

CHAUFFEUR DISPLAYS COURAGE. LONDON, June 7. M. Ve»izelos’s personal guard, who was travelling in the car, has died of wounds. The, chauffeur though badly wounded, pluckily continued to drive to Athens in spite of one tyre being punctured by bullets, of which twenty struck the car. Madame Venizelos was formerly Helen Schilizzi, a member of a wellknown Greek family in England. She was married to M. Yenizelos in 1921. It is believed that vengeance for executions during his Premiership was the motive for.the attack. The Premier, M. Tsaldaris is personallv directing the search lor the assailants.

M. Venizelos, now in his sixty-ninth year, was Premier of Greece until thi3 elections last March, when his part} was defeated. He is now the leader of the Opposition. Madame Helena Venizelos, his second wile, was the daughter of the late John Schilizzi. They were married in 1921.