GERMAN RULE IN GREECE

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23330, 16 May 1941, Page 9

GERMAN RULE IN GREECE

CONDITIONS “VERY

GRIM”

STOCKS SEIZED; ACUTE HOUSING PROBLEM

(Received May 15, 8 p.m.)

(U.P.A.) LONDON, May 14. Conditions in Gestapo-ruled Greece are very grim, says the Istanbul correspondent of "The Times.” The food situation is growing worse each day, especially, in the islands, where the people are on the verge of starvation. Bread, which is the Greeks’ main sustenance, is rationed to less than ilb a day. Almost all the meat is gomg to Germany and the Germans have requisitioned all stocks of tobacco, turpentine, oils and minerals, and also all ships of more than 50 tons. Many Greek towns, except Athens, were ■ seriously bombed, and this had made the housing problem acute because of the flood of refugees from Macedonia and Thrace. The Germans are doing their utmost to enlist support for the puppet government, but the public’s attitude Is illustrated by the Athens radio’s in-

junction against cheering British prisoners of war. This is being severely punished, It said. The Cairo carrespondent of the "Daily Telegraph” says the specious moderation in the early days of the German occupation Of Greece is being dropped In favour of the progressively ruthless dragooning of the population. Several Greeks have been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for Offering cigarettes to British prisoners. The Germans have announced the death penalty for sheltering British soldiers. The puppet Prime Minister (General Kollakoglu) has announced that all concerned with the Metaxas regime will be tried by a military councillor preparing war against Germany. A picture of conditions in Bulgaria was given by Mr G. W. Rendel, the British Minister to that country, when he was- Interviewed on his arrival in London by air 'from Cairo. Mr Rendel said; "The Bulgarians appreciated my work and treated me well, but three weeks before I left, the Gestapo had gained complete control.

' “We were all watched and the name and address were taken of everybody visiting my military and air attaches, and if they were Bulgarians they just disappeared to concentration camps. Our Bulgarian friends disappeared one by one.” REPORTED FOOD SHORTAGE BRITISH AND ANZAC PRISONERS CONDITIONS AT CORINTH CAMP (Received May 15,. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 15. The British United Press has learned from a neutral correspondent that British and Anzac prisoners of war at Corinth are, not getting enough to eat. One group stated that within four days it had received only a little rice and soup. The camp commandant admitted that food conditions were bad because of a shortage throughout Peloponnesus, but this was temporary. The prisoners were soon being transferred to Germany. In addition to the British and Anzacs, the Corinth camp accommodates 1000 Jewish labour battalion members, some refugees from Germany, four Jugoslav generals, and 1000 Jugoslav officers and men. GREEK NAVAL VESSELS AT ALEXANDRIA

(8.0. W.) RUGBY, May 14. Asked in the House of Commons what Greek naval vessels were avail-, able to assist the British Navy andwhether any fell into enemy hands, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (Sir Victor Warrender) replied; "As was to be expected in view of the very active and gallant part played by the Royal Hellenic navy during the recent operations in Greece, some losses were suffered, but I am glad to say that a number of extremely useful modern vessels have arrived safely at Alexandria. Ido not think it advisable to publish further details." FODDER SHORTAGE IN FRANCE 1,200,000 CATTLE TO BE SLAUGHTERED (Received May 13, 8 p.m.) VICHY, May 14. The Minister for Agriculture (M. Caziot) announced that 1,200,000 head of cattle were being slaughtered because fodder is 4,410,000 tons below the amount required, as a result of last season’s poor harvest and the ravages of the war and blockade. PASSENGERS of port HOBART PRISONERS IN GERMANY LONDON, May 14. The High Commissioner for New Zealand (Mr W. J. Jordan) has received advice that all the passengers aboard the Port Hobart, which was lost by enemy action, are now prisoners of war in Germany.