THE EARLIER PHASES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 128, 12 March 1935, Page 5

THE EARLIER PHASES.

THRONG OF VOLUNTEERS. PREPARING FOR NAVAL WAR. LONDON, March 11. Sir Perci.val Phillips, telegraphing to the “Daily Telegraph” from Athens, states:

A general offensive by- Government forces began early yesterday morning. General Kondylis reports that the iebols are throwing down their arms and fleeing in disorder. Snow and mist reduced visibility to 100 yards. Venizclist deserters are telling mournful tales of privations due to lack of food.

The plain where the operations aro taking place is deep in mud, so that the Government forces must move slowly. Athens received the news of the Government’s victory in Macedonia with relief. The capital thus far is entirely calm.

The i espouse of volunteer soldiers to tho Government’s call to arms is almost embarrassing. They have been sent forward to reinforce the Salonika front and are enduring the severe weather with reitfarkahlle -cheerfulness. Many are still in civilian clothes, without overcoats and even bareheaded. The Government has issued reassuring statements to the effect that no innocent persons will be punished merely because of their political opinions, but there have been many arrests.

The Government is ready to take an offensive against the fugitive ships. The old battleship Kilkis has been recommissioned. It has four 12-inch guns against the Averoff’s 9-inch weapons, is seaworthy and has an efficient crew. The Government also has seven destroyers, six torpedo-boats and two submarines. LOYAL FORCES IN MACEDONIA. ADVANCE HALTED AT NIGHTFALL. ATHENS, March 11. An official communique states: General Kondylis at midnight yesterday reported that his forces were unable to take Serves that day. Just before nightfall they met strong resistance seven miles from Serres. General Kondylis adds that he has taken 200 prisoners arid five guns, and that the Government losses are two dead and four wounded. He will take Serres this morning and then push on to Drama Kavala. JOURNALIST’S ESCAPE. STATE OF GREAT CONFUSION.

LONDON, March 11. Mr Selkirk Panton, a “Daily Telegraph” correspondent, telegraphs from the Yugoslavian border: After an 80-mile dash at night from Salonika in a ramshackle motor-car, afoot and, on a mule, I succeeded in escaping from Greece. The car’s brakes failed to act and the driver and I sprang free as the car crashed into a deep ravine; but a mule ride through the mountains finally brought us to the frontier. With other foreigners I haye virtually been a prisoner in Greece, unable to telegraph or telephone to the outside world. This is an open confession of the seriousness of the situation. It is believed in Salonika that the Government has completely lost its head. The British Minister at Athens protested energetically about a decree which delays and prevents the departure of British subjects. Having lost its fleet, the Government fears to send its aeroplanes out lest they desert to the rebels. General Metaxas (temporary Minister of War) is a keen Monarchist, and is believed to be using the revolution as an opportunity to restore the Monarchy. The names of the Duke and! Duchess of. Kent are mentioned as possible king and queen.

VENIZELOS' “MAD ENTERPRISE.” REVELATION OF THE PLOT. LONDON, March 10. A captain stationed at Salonica revealed the plot at noon on March 1 to the Governor-General, who was able to prevent Salonica and the lai gc towns in Macedonia from falling into the rebels’ hands. He held manoeuvres in the afternoon and summoned all officers to discuss them at headquarters, then had the building surrounded by loyal troops. The Governor-General telegraphed uio discovery to the President (M. Tsaldaris). “M. Tsaldaris granted me an interview to-day.” states the correspondent. “In a statement he said: ‘We are dealing with one of the worst political crimes in our history, committed by M. Venizelos. He has not hesitated to inflict enormous damage on the country for his own political ends. The country will never forgive him. Fortunately the country, apart from a few misguided officers and men, refused to join with M. Venizelos in his mad enterprise. Reports from Macedonia are good, and I hope that order will soon be restored. The rest of the country throughout remained absolutely calm and quiet.’ ”

A message from Milan states that General Plastiras has returned to Cannes. CRUISER’S REPORTED SURRENDER ABANDONMENT BY OFFICERS. ATHENS, March 11. An .official report states that the rebel cruiser Helle was surrendered by the crew after the officers had abandoned her during the night. It is reported that Rear-Admiral Colialexis, rebel commander of the cruiser Ayeroff, disguised as an ordinary seaman, arrived aboard a small cargo steamer at Kerkyra from Crete. ARMIES OF 40,000 MEN. VIOLENCE TO PRISONERS. LONDON, March 11. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Belgrade and Yugoslav correspondents' estimate the opposing armies in the Struma area of Macedonia at about 40,000 each. Near Corinth Royalist mobs attacked and tried to massacre a trainload AIR MAILS SUSPENDED.

ITALIAN WARSHIPS IN AEGEAN. ROME, March 10. The cruiser Trents and the destroyers Cadamosta and Pigafetta have departed for the Aegean Sea. Air mails to Greece and Turkey have been suspended.