REVOLT IN GREECE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 81, 4 March 1935, Page 7

REVOLT IN GREECE

MARTIAL LAW PREVAILS. GRIM BATTLES WAGED. AUTHORITIES IN CONTROL. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) ATHENS, March 2. Martial law was proclaimed_ following an lattempted coup d’etat at an arsenal by a number of officers, supporters M. Yenizelos, the former ■ Prime Minister, and General Palastiras. A proclamation states that the insurgent movement has been quelled. It is reported that a battalion of Republican Guards joined tho insurrection and _ was forced to surrender after fierce fighting. Nine warships joined the revolt. Five steamed to sea. The other four are within range of shore. Aeroplanes and heavy artillery bombarded all nine.

The Premier, M. Tsaldaris, issued a proclamation 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 Par two years had made an effort to hold back reactionaries, would act rigorously against the agitators. The culprits would be prosecuted with all the rigour 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 pursued the revolting warships, which replied to the bombing with gunfire.

M. Venizelos is reported to be in Crete. Many were killed in street fighting at Athens. The police arrested M. Papanastasiou, head of the Agrarian Labour Party, and many others. A batterv of artillery shelled the Evzones, killing and wounding several. The revolt broke out yesterday in the barracks of Evzones, the socalled Greek Highlanders because of their wearing wide white skirts and red tasselled caps. Fifteen ex-officers, sympathisers with General Palastiras, nicknamed “the Devil on Horseback,” who rose from the ranks to become Greece’s stormy petrel, enteied 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. Three 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 revolutionaries. There were no casualties.

A similar surprise descent was made on the Perama arsenal, where 25 active reserve officers, commanded by Admiral Demestitchns, arrived last night in motor-cars and decoyed loyal officers from the Averoff ashore, after which they lioarded the cruiser and placed the officers resisting them in irons. Mutineers speedily gained control of the light cruiser Hello, three destroyers and three submarines. AERIAL-NAVAL BATTLE. 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 tho 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 were no casualties. Two merchantmen were sunk in Salonika harbour to prevent tho warships entering. Admiral Tipados 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 permited one in the afternoon to enable protests against the revolution, which is Greece’s ninth since 1909. An official statement declares that the Government has long suspected the activities of officers connected with General Plastiras, who recently secretly visited the. Greek frontier, 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 in Greece, but I am not astonished at a revolt, as half the population is opposed to tlie 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 antiGovemmeut 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. 'Hie Government casualties are less.” The arrests include the ex-Premier, M. Cafandaris, other members of the Opposition, and many officers belonging to the Venizelist faction. A court-mar-tial is already sitting and many death sentences are expected. Strict censorship lias been established. The most serious fighting was at the barracks of 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 Jupiter’s Temple ait 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 ordered a curfew at 10 p.m. and also announced that if the warships do not surrender to-morrow they will be heavily bombed. Three ’planes

loaded with 2001 b bombs are ready to start. 'ilie Government has abolished the Senate, which was largely Yenezilist. WARSHIPS AT CRETE. REBELS UNDER ARREST. ATHENS, March 3. The rebel warships have arrived, and all communications with Crete have ceased. The Governor is silent, and it is feared that the island is entirely in the hands of the rebels. At Salonika martial law has been declared. Artillery is ready to bombard rebel ships if they attempt to enter the harbour. Several Opposition politicians and ex-officers have been arrested. A later message states that part of Crete joined the rebels, but the Governor (M. Aposkitis) arrested the rebels and occupied the telegraph and wireless stations: