LIBERATION OF ATHENS

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24389, 16 October 1944, Page 5

LIBERATION OF ATHENS

Allies Enter City

GREEK PATRIOTS IN CONTROL

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.J LONDON, Oct. 14. The liberation of Athens was officially announced on Saturday night. British troops have entered the city, A special communique issued in Rome to-night says that Allied troops to-day occupied Athens andT the port of Piraeus. The occupation was carried out by British and Greek troops, who were transported and landed and supported by ships of the Royal Navy and units of the Greek Navy. Members of the Greek resistance movement inside Athens are said to have revolted against the German garrison several days ago, and the bulk of the' German forces withdrew following the proclamation of Athens as an open city. The Germans a few hours before the liberation of Athens had not attempted to carry out demolitions. They probably spared the city for fear of vengeance, because their chances of escaping from Greece are slim. “According to first eye-witnesses returning from Greek' aerodromes, there was no opposition when the Allies landed in Athens,” reports Reuter’s correspondent at Allied Mediterranean Headquarters. “The Germans had pulled out. Greek patriots held the city and its airfields when the paratroops dropped. “Hundreds of tons of food and emergency, medics! supplies were flown into Athens within a few hours of the British occupation. The transport aeroplanes after, dropping paratroops returned to the airfields of the Peloponnesus, where supplies had been piled up to begin a shuttle service to Athens. . “The occupation of the port of Piraeus also now makes possible the speedy entry of relief .snip?, which long have been standing by laden with food and medicine for the Athenians. Airborne Forces “The special communique issued, in connexion with the entry of British trpops into Athens, also the port of Piraeus,” says Reuter’s correspondent, "reports that British . airborne forces carried in aeroplanes from the American Army, Air Force played'a leading part in the operation. The liberation of Athens was greatly facilitated by the preliminary .operations in the Aegean of a mixed force of Royal Navy cruisers, aircraft carriers, and destroyers, under the command first of Admiral Trowbridge and then Commpdore G. N. Oliver. /Hie American 15th Air Force’s successful attacks on airfields in Greece gravely hampered the evacuation of the Germans by air from the islands -of the Aegean - Lieutenant-General R.' M., Scobie commands the land forces in Greece, Rear-Admiral Manfield "commands the naval forces, and Air Commodore Harr court Smith commands the air- forces. “The German army in. Greece is retreating rapidly, according to Patriot troops who have been, in contact with them all the time,” reports a correspondent in Corinth, -They, have no spirit left and do not attempt to Mbt. “The only town sb far from which the Germans-had had to be driven .by British troops was, Patras. For the rest, our troops are 'having great aimculty in keeping up with them, i “At many* places the local. Greeks knew the plan of the enemy minefields and British patrols found safe alleys marked. The roads> were lined with cheering and waving crowds throwing flowers, rice, and raisins. . “In most places reprisals have been carried out in the last few months ana people tell how their friends and relatives were hanged just outside the towns. , “No Greeks have asked when reuef is coming although they are desperately in need. They are too prwd to ask for anything, but are looking to the Allies for help. In some places on the way from Patras whole villages went without food to enable them to ■ offer us a meal.” Allied Proclamations ' Three proclamations to the Greeks on their approaching liberation were broadcast by the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in the Mediterranean, the commander of the forces in Greece (Lieutenant-General R. M. Scobie). and the Greek GovernSir Henry Maitland Wilson, announcing that the day of liberation for the Greeks was at hand and that the force under his command was about to land in Greece, said that final victory was now assured. “When we were forced to leave Greece you called to us to come back again, and we are now responding to that call,” he said. 1 “We come now to sweep away all traces of the invader and, by the use of your ports and airfields, to harass his retreat." . „ . . . „ The proclamation also asked the Greeks for full co-operation. Lieutenant-General • Scobie appealed to the Greeks to comply with all instructions, to behave in an orderly manner, to keep the roads clear, and to co-operate in preserving order and hastening the work of relief. He asked public officials to stay at their, posts. The Greek Government’s proclamation called particularly on the guerrillas and secret patriotic organisations, the police forces, and non-com-missioned officers of every arm to obey the Government. “The island of Corfu ts in British hands,” a Rome correspondent reports. "No Germans were found in the town of Corfu when the British entered. “A party of 60 in the northeast corner of the island surrendered, and those remaining elsewhere are believed to be enemy deserters in hiding.” Before the British forces went ashore the Royal Air Force dropped leaflets urging the Germans to, surrender. Shortly afterwards white crosses and flags appeared all over the is’and, and low-flying pilots were greeted by cheerful, waving crowds. POLISH PROBLEMS (Rec. 1 p.m.) MOSCOW, Oct. 14.' Mr Stalin, Mr Churchill, and the Polish Prime Minister (Mr Mikolajczyk) conferred for two hours on Friday night. Mr Mikolajczyk pre-. viously had conferred separately with Mr Eden, Mr Molotov, the United, States Ambassador (Mr Averill Harriman) and the leaders of the Committee of National Liberation. Mr Churchill and Mr Stalin, who considered the Polish question on Friday from 7.30 p.m. to 1 a.m., with only a short interval for dinner, continued their talks to-dty. Details of the talks are not yet available, but there are indications of an exploratioh of common ground. The-decisive talk? are yet to come. The president of the Polish Committee of National Liberation (Mr Boleslaw Berut) told correspondents that after conferring with Mr Churchill and Mr Stalin he was optimistic about the results of the present talks.

"Poland needs the unification of all her forces,” said Mr Berut. "We will get unity on the basis of some kind of compromise.” “I am very hopeful,” said Mr Mikolajczyk on his arrival in Moscow. "I would not have come from London to Moscow for the second time if I were not.” He said that the invitation indicated the desire of the British and Russian Governments to find a satisfactory solution to the Polish problem,