FIGHTING IN GREECE

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25380, 31 December 1947, Page 5

FIGHTING IN GREECE

Reported Rebel Strength

19,000 UNDER ARMS

(N.Z.P.A.—Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, December 29. The Greek Army’s intelligence l service claims that the rebels have 19,000 men mobilised against the Government, says Reuter’s correspondent in Athens. They have 10,000 in north-western Greece, the scene of the present fighting centred on Kpnitza, 7000 mor e in Macedonia and the north-east, and another 2000 in the rest of the country. The British United Press correspondent, quoting the spokesman who gave 'those figures, says the'Army intelligence believes that more than 25 per cent, of the guerrillas came from Albania and Jugoslavia, and another 12 per cent, from Bulgaria. He adds that the Greeks report sighting an unidentified aircraft over Greek territory, and suggests that it was parachuting supplies to the guerrillas.

An Athens guerrilla who surrendered to Government troops told them that General Markos himself was commanding the seven battalions attacking Konitza.

Other reports say that the guerrillas are being continuously reinforced from Albania. The British United Press correspondent also reports that Government troops in bayonet charges cleared the guerrillas from several positions on the snow-clad heights round Konitza. 'pie rebels still hold the mountain heights over Konitza, and have claimed, through their own radio, that they have broken into the town and are engaged in bitter Street fighting. Early to-day the Greek Minister of War (Mr Andreas Stratos) said that the guerrillas’ attempt to capture Konitza for the rebel government's seat had been temporarily .frustrated. Athens newspapers report that strafing by rocket-firing Spitfires of the Greek Air Force inflicted heavy losses on the guerrillas. Better weather gave the airmen their first clear targets, including artillery emplacements from which the guerrillas were firing on Konitza. Greek Note to U.N. In New York to-day Mr Alexis Kyrou, the Greek delegate to the United Nations, said that he had sent a formal message to the SecretaryGeneral (Mr Trygve Lie) charging the Jugoslav Government with violation of the General Assembly’s recent resolution on war-mongering. He said that the Jugoslav radio had supported the recently-formed guerrilla regime in northern Greece and had attacked the Greek Government. The Greek Note does not call for action by the Security Council at present. pie Note also accuses Jugoslavia of violating the Assembly’s Balkan resolution, which forbids Greece’s northern neighbours to give aid to the Greek guerrillas. pie United Nations Balkans Commission has adopted a resolution stating , that recognition of General Markos s Government in Greece by a py foreign Government would constitute a threat to international peace and security. Reuter’s Athens correspondent, reporting this, adds that reliable sources m Athens said that Greece would immediately seek outside military aid for self-aefence under the United Nations Charter if any foreign Government recognised the rebels. It was stated that recognition would be tantamount to armed aggression. The correspondent adds that mempers of the commission yesterday flew to Janina, and from there thev will I.x- miles northward to observe thefighting i n the Konitza area. ♦ Greek Army’s Director of Intelligence (Colonel Constantine Val.to7day tha t Greek Army klter . c^P ted a code message JrCominform addressed . to General Markos containing the text of a New Year s proclamation in which General Markos would call on all his Gr ® ece to carry out acts °f sabotage and to start uprisings. yalchos added that he had guerrillas had the supa^ 2 ? can ffi s for hospital, trainassembly Purposes close begarianVder a s nian - JugOslav ' and Bul ' Colonel Valchos said Greece’s Slav with 7? U^ had s “PPl ied ‘he guerrillas SiJjL „ 75 per . cePt - of their automatic a u d a their heavier equip™tillery SUCh as mortars and