GREEK PATRIOTS IN CONTROL

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 307, 23 September 1944, Page 7

GREEK PATRIOTS IN CONTROL

Nearly All Mainland LONDON, September 22. The whole Greek mainland, apart from certain coastal towns, is now in. the hands of Greek patriots, according to reports reaching Cairo, says the British United Press correspondent there. The Germans are clinging to communication points, but everywhere else are withdrawing as fast as their limited transport ..permits. Athens and the Piraeus are the only places still controlled by the Germans. Guerrillas control the hinterland to Salonika and beyond and also the southern part of the province of Epirus. Guerrillas are reported to have captured two more lonian islands. Berlin radio quoted “Das Reich,” which, reviewing the German food situation, said: “Under the change in the military situation Germany is no longer supplying food to Belgium, Finland and Greece.” The British United Press correspondent says ’ this implies Germany has decided to abandon Greece. The Germans lost the whole of a parked convoy of 200 vehicles of all kinds, including cars, trucks, petrol tankers, and some tanks, in a dawn attack by Spitfires at Pedinon, in Greece, near the Serbian border, says Reuter’s correspondent at Allied Headquarters in Italy. The attack was led by Pilot Officer Tom Harrison, of Hastings. New Zealand. Reconnaissance planes later reported that all the vehicles had been either destroyed or damaged. Bombardment of Crete. The island of Crete has during the past week been a target for both the Navy and Air Force. On Tuesday the British cruiser Aurora bombarded • Candia harbour and airfields at Heraklion. On the same day naval aircraft in armed reconnaissance on Rhodes and Cos, destroyed nine motor-vehicles, bringing the total since the operations started to 68 destroyed and 10 damaged. Other naval aircraft scored a direct hit on a depot ship in the harbour of Rhodes. British infantry and artillery are taking nart in Marshal Tito’s liberation of the Dalmatian islands.