SALONIKA FREED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21550, 1 November 1944, Page 3

SALONIKA FREED

CLAIM BY PARTISANS GREECE ALMOST CLEARED BULGARIAN MASSACRES (11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Oct, 31. The Greek guerrilla organisation (E.L.A.S.) claims that Salonika has been liberated, says the Athens correspondent oi the British United Press. There is no confirmation from British headquarters. An Allied Headquarters communique says that British forces in Greece continue to harass the German rearguards north of Kozhani. Guerilla forces, which are actively-co-operating with the British troops in this area, captured Arnissa, 40 miles from Kozhani, where the German garrison was destroyed. The Associated Press correspondent in Rome says that the Greek guerrillas’ capture of Arnissa brought the liberation forces within seven miles of tiie Yugoslav frontier. Except the region between Salonika and the Yugoslav frontier, all Greece is free of Germans. Salonika itself is likely lo be recovered soon, if indeed the Germans have not already quit that important port. Greece is now completely free of Bulgarians who, for more than three years, have massacred, deported and maltreated tiie population of the north-eastern provinces.

An Athens correspondent says that the Greek Ministers, M. Porphyrogenis and M. Lambrianides, who have returned from a tour of the Greek eastern Macedonia and western Thrace, report that not a single Bulgarian remains in either province. Official statistics show that the Bulgarians killed over 60.000 Greeks during their occupation. The town of Drama was among the worst sufferers.

The Athens Government lias issued a decree disarming all resistance organisations in Greece except the E.L.A.S. and E.D.E.S.. which will bo incorporated into tiie regular army. The decree followed rioting in Athens last night between members of tire E.L.A.S. and Right Wing organisations.