CRETAN SAVED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 160, 19 April 1949, Page 4

CRETAN SAVED

DEATH PENALTY COMMUTED GISBORNE, April 18. The death sentence passed by a Greek military tribunal on Panayioty Tsafandakis, a Cretan convicted on summary evidence of armed resistance against the Greek Government, has been commuted to a term of imprisonment for 20 years. This information has been received by the Gisborne Returned (Services’ Association.

In hbe.medi-tflaabe teA )10 G Tsamandakis was one of two Cretan villagers on whose behalf intercession was undertaken by the Gisborne R.S.A. on the ground that they had assisted New Zealand soldiers at risk to themselves and their families after the collapse of the defence of the island in 1041. The first of the two men, Ledakis, was executed by order of the Greek Government before the affidavits prepared in New Zealand could be presented. In the effort to save Ledakis and Tsamandakis'the Gisborne association arranged for New Zealanders’ statements ■of aid given them to be forwarded through the Government and the United Kingdom Government to the Greek authorities. Two men, Messrs R. Huston and C. J. Ratcliffe, furnished affidavits indicating that during the German occupation of Crete they were protected and succoured by Ledakis and Tsamandakis, whose aid enabled them to escape capture for nearly two years.