RELIEF IN GREECE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21603, 4 January 1945, Page 3

RELIEF IN GREECE

STARVATION THREAT FORCED BREAK-DOWN CHARGE AGAINST E.L.A.S. (N.Z.E.E. Olfiekil Nows Service.) (9 a m ) ATHENS, Jan. 2. A'delayed despatch dated December '2l stales: While E.L.A.S. forces have carried on their snipers’ war againsi the British, Greek national troops and relief services alike, starvation lias threatened the guiltless population oi Greece. Large and cOicient relici organisations have been almost completely paralysed, ar.d over 90.000 tons of foods!u(Ts and clothing have waited uselessly in v rehouses or aboard ships wine-’ cannot be unloaded.

This docs not include other shipmerits, such as the one from the people of New Zealand, which waited in Die ports of other countries for h.e long-delayed signal to come forward. It is a tragedy exceeding' all others' in this land of tragedies, that the Allied plans promoted many months ago in the name of humanity should no the first casualties in a political struggle.

The supply and relief section 01 military liaison in Greece was formed over a venr ago, and landed in the Piraeus with the first units ashore, ft is headed by Brigadier T. J. King, oi Wellington, who is well known in international Rugby circles. Among his staff of picked Allied officers is Major K. R. S. Crarer, of Gisborne, who is in charge of shipping and procui ement. Before their arrival in Greece a detailed map was made showing the port and road facilities. Despite partisan activity and the presence ot German forces in some of the Aegean islands, this map lias not been greatly changed, so accurate was the information.

Gisborne Officer’s Onerous Post

The procedure is to ship supplies to the 10 main ports, from which caiques make coastal and inter-island trips. From the secondary ports, trucks service the more inaccessible villages. In anticipation of a shortage, caiques were built in the Middle East, as the organisation had also to think of the re-establishment of fisheries and the release of small craft lor this purpose. Many of the caiques did not survive the voyage over, but the programme was carried through. Up to a week ago *25,000 tons have been distributed by these means. And 110,000 tons oi food have been distributed by these means. And another .'19,100 tons lay in depots here awaiting clearance. Another map in the relief organisation office shows the whole of Greece and the surrounding islands covered with scores of little tags, each tag representing food and clothing successfully delivered. All this has been done in a country swirling with internecine strife, a country whose railway system was non-existent, and whose roads were rudimentary.

Even in the earliest days the E.L.A.S. bands which controlled the Pelopennese and other large sections of Greece were openly suspicious and antagonistic. They dominated the local people, and the only way in which relief supplies could be issued was open to suspicion. These suspicions have proved to be wellfounded, because the E.L.A.S. were not above seizing and converting to their own uses large quantities of foodstuifs. To them the issue of supplies was an important political weapon.

British troops in those areas did yeoman service in seeing that the supplies reached the women and children. On the other hand, the Greek Government help did not come up to expectations. Few of the Greek departments functioned smoothly, and there was difficulty in getting statistics of any kind. Islands Free From Strife In the islands, where there is no political strife, the system continues to work perfectly. Siros, in the Cyclades, has received 2225 tons and cleared over 2000 by caique to the islands of the group. Without difficulty Khios disposed of two-thirds of its 8900 tons. The problem of Crete, with its 15,000 Axis troops still in residence, was solved. Following an appeal headed by a gentleman who for once jjiil the needs of his native island above politics, bnl who now commands an R.L.A.S. corps. 1 inn) tons of food went to lieraklion by caique. The outbreak of hostilities prevented the loading of a Swedish ship for which Major King had already secured safe conduct into Suda Bay. This would have meant 2500 tons of supplies for the starving people of German-held Canon, Suda and Galatos.

December 3 brought a complete stoppage of supplies on the mainland. Scarcely one remained of some hundreds of civilian vehicles employed in the distribution. For them the necessary tyres and spares had already been ordered. Military trucks on loan to the relief organisation were diverted to operational uses, and other transport was cut off in inaccessible places. Tlie E.L.A.S. road-blocks and sniping stopped all movement, even about Athens, but not before the relief vehicles had accumulated many bullet-holes and their drivers had suffered casualties.

“We were just getting rolling,” said one officer to-day. “It is a great blow to us after all this planning. But don’t get the idea we are beaten. Directly ilais show stops we are all geared to get on with the job.” But I find they are not waiting after all. Soup-kitchens are open, despite machine-gun bullets, and food is going out to anybody who can be reached as the British troops slowly clear the Athens area.