July 10 Was Set As Date For Uprisings In Greece

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 July 1947, Page 5

July 10 Was Set As Date For Uprisings In Greece

(Rec. 11.30 a.m.) ATHENS, July 11. The Minister of Public Order, General Zervas, said that the Greek Government had seized orders which the Central Communist Committee had issued in April for the creation of a “Communist revolutionary army in Greece.” The police continued a widespread search in Athens’ houses for persons suspected of having been involved in the alleged Communist plot against the State. General Zervas said that the Communists, before the time set for the general uprisings throughout Greece, had accused their “revolutionary comrades”' in the cities of failing to support the mountain fighters. The Communists, as one phase of “plan F” intended to organise strikes and sabotage and “cultivate the revolutionary spirit.” General Zervas said that highranking members of the Communist Party arrested during the last three days had confessed responsibility for the entire programme of uprisings which were timed to begin on July 10. The police had intercepted a letter from the guerrilla leader, Markos, setting this date for the distribution of arms and the start of violence.

Government forces had found caches of arms in Kavalla containing 400 automatic weapons, three barrels of dynamite, 9000 rounds of ammunition, radio sets and a typewriter with the keyboard in Bulgarian script.

General Zervas said that those arrested, could be charged with high treason for which the maximum penalty was death. 1 The Communist newspapers, Risospastis and Elletheri Elladi are appearing as usual in Athens.