TRAGIC GREECE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 2, 3 January 1945, Page 3

TRAGIC GREECE

POLITICS V. FOOD

THREAT OF STARVATION

N.Z.E.F. Official "War Correspondent.

ATHENS (delayed), Dec. 21

While B.L.A.S. forces have carried on their snipers' war against the British, Greek national troops and relief services alike, starvation has threatened the guiltless population of Greece, Large and efficient relief been, almost completely''paralysed, and. over 90,000 tons of foodstuffs and clothing have waited uselessly in warehouses or aboard ships which cannot be unloaded. This does not include other shipments such as one from the people of New Zealand which waited in the, ports of other countries for the long delayed signal to come forward. It is a tragedy exceeding all others in this' land of tragedies that the Allies' plans promoted many months ago in the name of humanity should be the first casualties in the political struggle. The supply and relief section of the military liaison in Greece was formed over a year ago, and landed in Piraeus with the first units ashore. It was headed by Brigadier T. J. King, of Wellington, who is well known in international Rugby circles. : Among his staff of picked Allied officers is Major K. R. S. Crarer, of Gisborne, who is in charge of shipping and procurement. Detailed Plans for Relief Before their arrival in Greece a detailed map was made showing the port and road facilities. Despite Partisan activity and the presence of German forces in some of the Aegean islands, this map has not been greatly changed, sc accurate was information. The procedure is to ship supplies to ten main ports, from which caiques make coastal. and inter-island trips. From secondary ports trucks service the more inaccessible villages. In anticipation of a shortage caiques were built in the Middle East as the organisation had also to think of the re-establishment of fisheries and the release of small craft for this purpose. Many caiques did not survive the voyage over, but the programme was carried through. Up to a week ago 25,000 tons had been distributed by these means, and 39,100 tons lay in depots here awaiting clearance. Another map in the relief office shows the whole of Greece and the surrounding islands covered with scores of little tags, each tag representing food and clothing successfully delivered. All this was done in a country swirling with internecine strife, a country whose railway system was non-existent, and whose roads were rudimentary. Food a Political Weapon Even in the earliest days E.L.A.S. bands which controlled the Peloponnese and other large sections of Greece were openly suspicious and antagonistic. They dominated the local people, and the only way relief supplies could be issued was open to suspicion. These suspicions have proved to be well founded, because the E.L.A.S. were not above seizing and converting to their own uses large quantities of foodstuffs. To them the issue ■of supplies was an important political weapon. British troops in those areas did yeoman service in seeing that supplies reached the women- and children. On the other hand Government help did not come up to expectations. Few Greek departments functioned smoothly, and there was difficulty in getting statistics of any kind.

On December 3 there was a complete stoppage of supplies on the mainland. Scarcely one remained of some hundreds ,of civilian vehicles employed in the distribution. For them the necessary tyres and spares had already been ordered. Military trucks on loan were diverted to operational uses, and other transport was cut off in inaccessible places. B.L.A.S. road-blocks and sniping stopped all movement, even about Athens, but not before the relief vehicles had accumulated many bullet holes and their drivers had suffered casualties.

It was early realised that the supply of food was not enough. In the Athens-Piraeus area alone the chemical industry normally employs 19,000 people, and cotton and woollen manufacture another 26,000. All these industries were operating during the occupation, and damage to the factories amounted merely to the removal of belting and ball-bearings. To restart them would provide work and, wages • for a . large number of people, arid also would keep them from endless street corner political arguments and demonstrations. Raw material was needed, so raw cotton was one of the first items shipped from Egypt. But even with this provision against loss of time the outbreak of hostilities prevented delivery to the mills. Hidden, somewhere 50 miles from Athens is 2000 tons of raw cotton which disappeared when E.L.A.S. took;the Kopias area. It is estimated : that by now the cotton and chemical industries would have been back in full operation directly employing over 30,000 people, to say nothing of the thousands indirectly affected. Coal and oil were also procured by the Allies to start the wheels of industry rolling. The hostilities nullified another humanitarian project which would have lessened the death roll this winter. During .the fighting in Epirus,- Attica and Thessaly the Germans totally destroyed 25,000 houses and damaged 170,000. With the onset of winter the plight of the villagers will be pitiful. Plans were made to repair the cottages, and it is estimated that by now 30,000 would have been made habitable but for the outbreak of fighting. . There are many other facets of the vast relief system that would have been a model for liberated countries. The greatest loss is that of the vital autumn months. Because they could not be utilised, due to the E.L.A.S. breach of faith, thousands will die in Greece this, winter. Beyond Political Influence In the islands where there is no political strife the system continues to work perfectly. Siros, in the Cyclades, received ; 2225 tons, and cleared over 2000 tons by caique to islands of the group. Without difficulty Khios disposed of two-thirds of its 8900 tons. The problem of Crete, with its 15,000 Axis troops still in residence, was solved. Following an appeal headed by a gentleman who for once put the needs of his native island above politics, but who now commands an E.L.A.S. corps, 1000 tons of food went to-Heraklion by caique. The outbreak of-hostilities prevented the loading, of a Swedish ship for which the King had already secured safe conduct into Suda Bay. This would have meant 2500 tons of supplies for the starving people of Ger-man-held Canea, Suda and Galatos.