REVOLT IN GREECE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 126, 9 March 1935, Page 5

REVOLT IN GREECE.

REBELS POSSESS THRACE. ADVANCING ON SALONIKA. (United Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 1.45 p.m.) SOFIA, March 8. The Greek rebels are reported to have taken possession of-almost all Thrace and to be advancing toward Salonika, under a son of M. Venizelos. The Greek frontier is closed but no attempt has been made to enter Bulgaria. Greek frontier guards display divided sympathies. BANK NOTES DESTROYED. PREVENTING REBEL POSSESSION - (Received This Day; 12,55 p.m.) • .'.-■ -' ■ : ATHENS, March 8. The''CHias and Syra branches of the Bank of Greece destroyed £300,000 worth of bank notes to prevent the rebels obtaining them. SALONIKA HARBOUR MINES.

PILOTAGE.OF FOREIGN SHIPS. (Received This Day, 12.20 p.m.) SALONIKA, March 8. The Struma River has overflowed, flooding the adjacent districts. Foreign vessels may use the harbour under pilotage to avoid the minefields. ATHENS IN STATE OF PANIC. .... . . ~. ~.. ... i THREAT OF BOMBARDMENT. LONDON,,, March 8. A special correspondent of the "Daily Express," after staying in Athens, telegraphs from the Yugoslav frontier that Athens is threatened with a bombardment and the monarchy may be restored. The rebel fleet have become pirates, capturing two Greek cargo veessls in order to obtain supplies. Vice-Admiral Demestichas, their leader, has issued an ultimatum that unless the Premier (M. Tsaldans) resigns and hands over power to the Venizelists the fleet will bombard Athens. ' This threat has thrown the Government and the population of the capita into panic and the situation is so bad that the Government is discussing restoration of the monarchy in order to quieten Greece. The difficulty is who can be asked to be king. Ex-King George is now in India as the guest of the Viceroy and Prince Nicholas, the father of Princess Marina, is elderly and not in the best of health. . ' .. "I found Athens quivering with teoi and business at a standstill," the correspondent concludes. A message from Salonika states that, despite snow over a foot deep. Government troops slightly advanced against the rebels in Eastern Macedonia, who were anxiously awaiting reinforcements from Crete. The rebels are out of hand. They have begun looting in several .villages, and have greatly damaged tobacco crops. The rebel fleet lias seized the islands of Mitylene, Samos and Chois. The Government denies allegations that it intends to bring about a return to moharchism, and adds that Republicanism is only endangered by the partisans of M. Venizelos.