UNABATED FURY OF FIGHTING IN ATHENS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 290, 7 December 1944, Page 5

UNABATED FURY OF FIGHTING IN ATHENS

(N.Z.P.A.—Copyright.—Rcc. 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, December 6. Fighting in the heart of the city is progressing to-night with unabated fury, says Reuters Athens correspondent. British tanks, armoured cars and lorry loads of infantry, together with regular Greek troops from a Greek mountain brigade, have spread from the centre of Athens to the south-east, south-west and north. British paratroop platoons, with supporting tanks and armoured cars are attacking the E.L.A.S. resistance forces who are installed in houses on both sides of the main road leading to Piraeus, also in the gardens around the Temple of Jupiter.

British armoured cars and tanks in the early stages of the fighting used only heavy and light machine-guns, but this afternoon a Sherman tank fired a few rounds from a six-pounder into the E.L.A.S. positions from a distance of about 600 yards. The Greek mountain brigade, with Greek Government police, captured the E.A.M. party headquarters, about a mile from Constitution Square, after a battle lasting three hours. The British United Press Athens correspondent reports that R.A.F. Spitfires six times strafed E.L.A.S forces in Athens. A communique from the headquarters of the British Cora-mander-in-Chief, Lieutenant-General Scobie, to-night says: "The E.L.A.S activity in the Athens and Piraeus area was reduced in scale last night. E.L.A.S troops before dawn to-day began to advance into the Government quarter of Athens, which is guarded by the British. British troops opposed the advance. Fighting ensued and still continues. British troops earlier moved to relieve a British detachment protecting the Acropolis and were attacked by light automatics and grenades." ' m The British troops who are involved in the trouble in Greece are not quite sure what it is all about, states Reuters Athens correspondent. "I saw British troops engaged in fighting against E.L.A.S. forces along the main road to Piraeus. They had portable radio sets strapped to their chests and moved slowly forward, keeping close to walls, while bullets criss-crossed from all directions. One English infantry private said: 'We don't know who's who, that is the snag. There is so much shooting between each side that anyone who gets into the middle has a bad time. , A Glasgow paratrooper, stationed at a street corner watching for snipers, said: 'This is a rotten job. Cassino was a hot spot, but there you at least knew what you were on. Here there is no telling who's who with snipers all around. I would rather fight the Germans in the front line any day. , "