INTENTION TO KILL 600 HOSTAGES DENIED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22819, 14 December 1948, Page 5

INTENTION TO KILL 600 HOSTAGES DENIED

(10.15 a.m.)

ATHENS, Dec. 13

The Government described as a “fabrication and Communist propaganda” a Yugoslav allegation that 620 hostages on the island of Acginn are under sentence of death.

Violent fighting is raging between n force of guerrillas estimated at 2500 to 3000 and national forces in a battle for Karditsa, says a General Staff communique quoted by the Associated Press. The communique said that Karditsa was attacked yesterday morning and one guerrilla unit entered the heart of the town where it blockaded itself in houses. Government pilots strafed and bombed guerilla positions. This morning the western part of the town and the approaches were in guerrilla hands. The communique claimed that, a guerrilla cavalry brigade was virtually wiped out. Reuter says that later reports from Larissa claim that Greek troops supported by armoured cars have cleared guerrillas from Karditsa. An unconfirmed report says (hat the town's prefect has been slaughtered by the guirrillas while part of the male population has been abducted. Fighting is continuing outside the town.