GRAVE SITUATION

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 6 March 1935, Page 7

GRAVE SITUATION

Venizelists Attempt to Seize Samos Island Garrison MILITIA REMAIN LOYAL REBEL LEADERS ARRESTED (United Press As&xaation—By Electric Telegraph Copyright). Received 12 noon to-day. ATHENS, March 5. The Government has prohibited civil aircraft flying over Greek territory. A message from Salonika states that the port is thickly mined.

Grave news has reached London that the rebels, besides occupying Crete and the most powerful units of Lie fleet, also occupy part of Eastern Macedonia. The Greek Government is sending reinforcements to Macedonia and M. Tsaldaris is quickly assembling all the forces in the air, on the sea and on the land. The Greek army’s effective strength is 5000 officers and 60,000 infantry, armed with German and French rifles, guns, machine-guns and artillery, with mountain guns and quick-firers. The navy comprised the Averoff, of 9060 tons, the Helle, of 2600 tons, and several destroyers, torpedo-boats, minelayers and submarines and a variety of miscellaneous craft. The air force has 150 planes and 2379 officers and men trained by British instructors. A British naval mission reorganised the navy from 1927 to 1932. M. Condylis, War Minister, has taken command in Salonica and issued a proclamation appealing to the loyalty of the soldiers. The Venizelists attempted to seize Samos, but the island garrison was loyal and arrested the rebel leaders. - Three bombing planes returned at 6.45 p.m. and reported two hits on the Averoff’s stern with 2501 b bombs, causing fire. Four other bombs apart from range finders fell into the sea. The intention was to disable and not to sinkTfne cruiser. A Belgrade message says that cannon fire in Macedonia has been heard in Yugoslav border towns. Travellers from Greece report that the rebels have a strong force in Macedonia under General Kammenos. Fierce fighting continues. The Athens correspondent of the London Times states that Government aeroplanes report that the rebel fleet has quitted Crete and is steaming northwards.

Imperial Airways are making arrangements tlirougii the courtesy of the Italian Government to operaibe the Empire air service to and from Africa, India, Singapore, and Australia, via Malta, Benghazi, and Tobruk to Alexandria, where the normal route will be resumed. It is hoped this deviation will not cause any serious delay to the schedule.

Passengers to and from Greece cannot at present be accepted.