FIGHTING IN GREECE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 67, Issue 235, 17 July 1947, Page 5

FIGHTING IN GREECE

“INVASION HAS FAILED” GENERAL ZERVAS REPORTS (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, July 16. The Greek Minister of Public Order (General Zervas), in a statement from Janina-, declared: “The attempted invasion of Epirus has failed. Eight battalions were organised and armed with powerful firearms in Albania. So far we have established that at least two battalions are of foreign origin.”

Earlier, General Zervas had reported that some guerillas fighting in the Epirus region were wearing red armbands with the hammer and sickle. Many had red jackets and some the Soviet star.

The Athens correspondent of Reuters said that Moslems of Albanian origin from Epirus,, who had fled from Greece into Albania at the time of the liberation, had been identified among the guerillas.

Commenting on the fighting in Greece, the ' “Manchester Guardian” says: “Both sides appear to have decided that compromise is impossible. The Government now openly plans to suppress the Communists, if not the whole of the Left Opposition. If the Government succeeds in this, Opposition elements will undoubtedly go underground, and will increase in strength if things go badly in Greece.” “The Times” says: “It is easier to diagnose the Greek trouble than to prescribe for it. Greece has always lacked a strong- central party on which the extremes of Right and Left could break their force, and so long as the Greek Opposition is treated merely as the paid agent of Powers outside Greece no settlement is possible. “The bulk of the men fightihg with the rebels are not bandits, l)ut men who believe they are fighting for the same just cause Avhich inspired them during the war. Only a radical change of policy by the Maximos. Government can bring the fighting and all its attendant horrors to an end.” , The “Yorkshire Post” says: “The maladministration of the Maxmios Government must be held responsible, at least in part, for the admitted increase in support for Communism m Greece. When the world Avar ended, Communism was almost universally detested throughout Greece, but today the facts plainly declare the number of its adherents. 1 “American help will assist the Government to restore order, but a measure of democratic freedom Avould be the surest antidote to Communism.”

FRONTAL ATTACK LAUNCHED TWO GREEK BRIGADES (Rec. 10.45 a.m.) ATHENS, July 16. Two Greek brigades to-day launch' ed a frontal attack against guerillas surrounding Konitza, near the Albanian border. • •, c +VIQ Dwight P. Griswold, leader of the American mission to Greece, expressed the hope that the United Nations eventually would take over the responsibilities the United States had accepted in Greece. He said the United States wished to see stability restored as speedily as possible so that Greece could be left unmolested and free to develop her resources as an independent nation. .The United States could help, but even greater responsibility rested on the Greek people.

GUERILLA COMMANDER'S CHARGES BRITISH AND AMERICANS INVOLVED (Rec. 11.35 a.m.) LONDON, July 16. The Greek guerilla commander Markos in a statement alleging that Bri« tish and Americans were assisting the Greek Government forces against the guerillas, named the British Major, Peter Stoff in connection witji the in cident on November 27, 1946, says the British United Press Belgrade correspondent. Markos added that Britons had been implicated in incidents on November 13, 1946, December 19, 1946 and May 22, 1947. 1 The British Embassy attache assisted the commander of the Greek Ninth Division, General Katrillo, in operations against the “democratic army” at Larissa on June 10, 1947. A British and an American officer took part in military operations at Larissa on June 12, 1946. British and American aeroplanes flew over the combat area at Agraplia on June 13, 1947, and two English and one American officers, who arrived at Hadpi on June 14, 1947, operated in contact with a major of the Greek Government’s forces.

It is emphasised in London, says Reuter’s, that no British troops of nnv kind have taken active part in fight ing against the guerillas.