Revolt in Greece

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 4 March 1935, Page 5

Revolt in Greece

ATTEMPTED COUP D’ETAT

Insurgent Movement Quelled After Fierce Fighting PLANES BOMB WARSHIPS MARTIAL LAW DECLARED (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright). ATHENS, March 2. Martial law was proclaimedfollowing an attempted coup d’etat at an arsenal by a number of officers, supporters of M. Venizelcs, a former Prime Minister, and General Plastiras. A proclamation states that the insurgent movement has been quelled. It is reported that a battalion of Republican Guards joined the insurrection and was forced to surrender after, fierce fighting. Nine warships joined the revolt. Pive steamed to sea -and reached Crete, where the Governor arrested the rebels and occupied the telegraph and wireless stations. The other four are within range of the shore. Aeroplanes and heavy artillery bombarded all nine.

The Premier, M. Tsaldaris, issued a xiroelamation that a number of lunatics at the Marine Arsenal and the Evelyptides military training school, also two companies of Evzones, attempted to strike at the liberties. of the people. The National forces, which had fought with fidelity and devotion, had suppressed the rising, and the Government was completely master of the situation. Greeks might rest easily that the Government, which for two years had made an effort to hold back reactionaries, would act rigorously against the agitators. The culprits would be prosecuted with all the rigours of the law. The cruiser Averoff, Greece’s biggest ship, with a crew of 600, when fleeing to Crete, was seriously damaged by aeroplane bombs. Four loyal destroyers are pursuing the revolting warships, which replied to the bombing with gunfire. M. Venizelos is reported to be in Crete. Many iv ere killed in street fighting at Athens. The police arrested M. iPapanastasiou, head of the Agrarian Labour Party, with many others. A battery of artillery shelled the Evzones, killing and wounding several. BARRACKS SHELLED. The revolt broke out yesterday in the barracks of the Evzones, the socalled Greek Highlanders because of their wearing wide white skirts and red tasselled caps. Fifteen ex-officers, sympathisers with General Plastiras, nicknamed “the devil on horseback, who rose from the ranks to become Greece’s stormy petrel, entered the barracks and, in the absence of officers, persuaded two companies to rebel. Loyal troops issued an ultimatum to the rebels and subsequently shelled the barracks, this resulting in their surrender early to-day. Ihree Evzones were killed and 12 wounded. In the meanwhile 100 civilians and 12 military rebels broke into the Evelyptides military college, held up ■the commandant with a revolver, and tried to persuade the cadets to surrender their arms. The result was in the balance when loyal troops charged in and cleared out the revolters. There were lio casualties. A similar surprise descent was made on the Perama arsenal, where 95 active reserve officers, commanded by Admiral Deinestitchas, arrived last night in motor-cars and decoyed loyal officers from the Averoff ashore, after which they boarded the cruiser and placed the officers resisting them in irons. Mutineers speedily gained control of the light cruiser Helle, three destroyers and three submarines. ’PLANES BOMB WARSHIPS. The Government rushed artillery to Perama and two batteries at 1 a.m. shelled the rebel ships ineffectively, owing to the lengthy range. The warships, replying, considerably damaged houses at Perama. . The Averoff and Helle and the destroyers Psara, Leon and Niki steamed off at dawn singly, abandoning submarines and two destroyers after putting their guns and engines out of action. The Government issued . a wireless proclamation pronouncing them rebels and pirates, and dispatched 11 British-made aeroplanes with orders to sink the ships unless they signalled their surrender. The ’planes bombed the warships throughout the day; repeatedly returning for fresh loads. They chiefly concentrated on the Averoff, which was twice directly hit and damaged despite its armoured deck, thereby, incidentally, throwing light on the controversy as to whether aeroplanes can effectively bomb warships. They also put the Niki out of action, but she was taken in tow by another of the rebels’ vessels. The rebels’ anti-aircraft guns badly peppered the ’planes, disabling two.* There weie no casualties. . Two merchantmen were sunk in Salonika. harbour to prevent the warships entering. Admiral Tiplados offered to mediate between the Government and the rebels, who asked a respite to consider their reply. The Government, has taken numerous precautions, including prohibiting meetings although it permitted one in the afternoon to enable protests against the revolution, which is Gieooe s ninth since 190 J.

LONG SUSPECTED. An officia’ statement declares that the Government has long suspected the activities of officers connected with General iPlastiras, who recently secretly visited the Greek fi>nt,er, but returned to Cannes, believing the preparations for a revolt insufficient, A report from Cannes states that General Plastiras says: “I know nothing about the events m Greece, but I am not astonished at a, revolt, as half the population is opposed to the Government.” ~ According to the* newspapers the Governor of Crete has requested M.

Venizelos to reveal his attitude regarding the revolt.' Newspapers violently attack the Venizelists and declare that they have been selling shares heavily recently, causing a heavy slump in currency. M. Venizelos, after a violently antiGovemment speech, declared for the revolution. The Minister of War, General Condylis, says: “The mainland remained faithful to the Government apart from small engagements at Athens. It is estimated that the rebels lost 12 dead. The Government casualties are less.” The arrests include the exPremiers M. Papanastasiou and M. Cafandaris, other members of the Opposition and many officers belonging to the Venizelist faction. A courtmartial is already sitting and many death sentences are expected. Strict censorship has been established. REBELS SURRENDER, The most serious fighting was at the barracks at the Evzones, where four companies with two armoured cars were sent to dislodge the rebel battalion, which replied to the ultimatum with a fusillade and hail of grenades, wounding two officers. Thereupon the Premier ordered shelling. The loyalists took up a position in Juperiter’s Temple at the Acropolis and opened fire, to which the rebels replied with rifles and machine guns for four hours. The loyalists finally charged with bayonets and the rebels surrendered. The Government ordera curfew at 10 p.m. and also announced that if the warships do not surrender to-morrow ’planes loaded with 2001 b bombs will again bomb them. Three ’planes are ready to start. The Government has abolished the Senate, which is largely Venizelist.