GREEK LIBERATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 October 1944, Page 5

GREEK LIBERATION

BRITISH ADVANCE CONTINUED

LONDON, October 30. British troops in Greece have liberated the town of Koziani, about 40 miles from the northern frontier. A correspondent in Rome, in a dispatch yesterday, said: “Our forward units in Greece have reached tne area of Koziani, and are 45 miles from the Jugoslav border, where they are harassing the retreating enemy. On Sunday afternoon many enemy guns and mortars were silenced when our artillery bombarded German positions close to the town.” Two hundred caiques (small sailing craft) are already distributing food round the Greek coast. Sir David Whaley, British Treasury expert, has arrived in Athens to assist the Greek Government to stabilise currency. QUITTING SALONIKA (Rec. 10.15 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 30. The German action at Koxham, which was captured after a short engagement, was the first German attempt to make a stand in Greece since the fall of Athens, says the Exchange Telegrapth’s Agency’s Rome correspondent. A short, fierce action was fought on the western side ol the town against Germans who had made full use of the guns and mortal’s. The British capturing the town reached roads leading to Salonika, 65 miles distant. The R.A.F. is continuing attacks against the Germans pulling out of Salonika. Our advance continues in the direction of Jugoslavia.

STARVATION WIDESPREAD

LONDON, October 30

“The Times’s” correspondent al Athens says: The Allies in Greece face problems which are even more urgent than at first appeared Greece’s financial situation is extremely parlous. Hundreds of thousands are still on the borderline of starvation and unemployment is rife because industry, commerce, and agriculture cannot be resumed without far greater outside help than has been given. The severe Winter is approaching, and there is little food. Conditions in the fashionable centre of Athens do not appear to be bad. but there arc still thousands roaming the streets with nothing to do, and there are obvious signs of distress. Conditions in the suburbs and working class districts are horrifying. With such shocking poverty and malnutrition it is amazing how the people manage to keep alive. Thousands must die if .something is not done for them soon. Conditions in the country districts and in the islands vary greatly, but as Greece is almost without transport the distrbution of food is impossible. Inflation is spreading alarmingly, but could be slowed down by the importation of food. However, only 400 tons is at present coming in daily, which is grossly insufficient.