The Crisis In Athens

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 136, 6 December 1944, Page 5

The Crisis In Athens

BRITISH CASUALTIES'

_. . LONDON, December S> . The situation in Athens has become more serious. British troops' have been in action and have suffered some casualties. A correspondent says that fighting is going- on in various parts of the town and that guerrillas are virtually in control of certain areas.

A communique issued this evening by the British cfimmander-in-chief, Lieut.-General Scobie, said that sporadic fighting between police and gendarmerie and left-wing parties had led to the evacuation of a number of police stations in the Athens-Piraeus area. Fighting also occurred between right-wing and left-wing elements. On a number of occasions British troops intervened, and in two cases they had had to take action to avoid bloodshed. At one place tanks fired a few rounds into houses held by left-wing elements which were.attacking a civilian prison containing alleged collaborators. British troops assisted the gendarmerie in guarding this prison, and suffered some casualties. Left-wing supporters abducted a number of Greek navy and army officials and civilians. i The communique mentions more news of armed troops of the left-wing EAM Party moving up towards the capital. A correspondent says Athens is a risky place to be in, for there is sniping m the streets. British troops with fixed bayonets are guarding important buildings, and the streets are closed with barbed-wire barricades