U.N. Commission Investigates

Evening Star, Issue 26153, 15 July 1947, Page 5

U.N. Commission Investigates

((Rec. 11 a.m.) ATHENS, July 14. Australian, United States, and „ Russian representatives of the ' United Nations Balkans Commission left Salonika by air for Konitza to investigate reports that an international brigade had violated Greek territory. - , A report to Belgrade from the Athens correspondent of the Yugoslav official new 6 agency accused the Greek Government. of inventing a “story about foreign legions crossing into Greece to conceal its failure to crush democratic forces which had begun a successful counter-offensive against Government troops in all regions.” Greek Government officials said today that the main fighting now was concentrated in the mountainous area around St. Nicholas, about five miles north-west of Konitza, and three miles from the frontier. The Minister of Public Order, General Napoleon Zervas. said two Greek army columns had advanced on Konitza, and there was no danger of the guerrillas capturing the town. Reports state that Greek army forces apparently broke the ring of guerrillas around Konitza during the night. A general staff officer announced that the civil air lines which were requisitioned to fly troops to the scene of the fighting' would probably be returned to their owners to-morrow. It is officially stated that Government * forces attacked the guerrillas surrounding Konitza before _ dawn today and now hold the full initiative. Government forces captured 60 guerrillas, many of whom could not speak Greek. , The Associated Press says two Government columns are in action north of Konitza. „• One is moving to the east,

two and a-half miles from the Albanian frontier, and the other is moving to the west, five miles from the border. Reinforcements for the Greek army are arriving continually. The Cabinet held an. emergency meeting to-day, aftef which General Zerjras left Athens by air for Jenina. A well-informed source said the Cabinet was gravely concerned regarding the reaction of the Allies over the fighting in northern Greece and whether in the case of extreme emergency help could be expected from’the Allies. Communists and Left Wing supporters arrested for “ planning fifthcolumn sabotage ” in Athens were deported to unnamed Greek islands. FIGHTING IS HEAVY. All reports agree that the lighting around Konitsa is heavy and something different from the'isolated guerrilla skirmishes of the last few months, says the ‘ Evening News.’ There seems little., doubt that operations are being directed from the mountains in Albania itself.. Government sources stated that Greek armjr forces have • reoccupied Borozani Bridge, near Konitsa, which the rebel forces had taken. The Navy-Minister, M. Venizelos, • said it was not absolutely clear whether-the international brigade had entered Greek territory, but there seems no doubt that strong forces of Albanian troops had assisted Greek irregulars who had crossed the frontier. Three Greek air force planes would take the United Nations Balkans Commission to the scene of the fighting. . A Greek Government communique claimed that the guerrillas at Konitsa were .defeated and were retreating towards the Albanian frontier.