IN FULL FLIGHT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 88, 12 March 1935, Page 7

IN FULL FLIGHT

THE GRECIAN REBELS. OFFICERS DESERT TROOPS. ADVANCE BY LOYALISTS. (United Press Association—J3y Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received March 12, 9.45 a.m. ATHENS, March 11. Tlie Government troops, advancing on Serres at dawn, did not meet with resistance and, pushing eastward, they occupied Deinirhtssa.r. Jhe rebels, in full flight, evacuated the town or Drama. The rebel office!s are fieeing northward, leaving the men to look alter themselves. Three thousand have been captured. It is reported that General Ivamenos is seeking terms for Ids surrender. An official report states that the rebel cruiser Helte was surrendered by the crew after the officers abandoned her. Alexandria reported that Rear-Ad-miral Colialcxis, the rebel commander of the cruiser Averoff, disguised as an ordinary seaman, arrived abroad the small cargo steamer Kerkyra from Crete. NORMALITY IN ATHENS. REBEL SOLDIERS DESERT. Received March 12, 11.15 a.m. ATHENS, M-.rcli HThe city is normal and the authorities have resumed their functions in all towns. In Macedonia and Ihrace field operations are virtually ended. General Sonides entered Drama at the head of the loyal troops. The population of Serres wildly cheered General Kondylis’s soldiers. General Ivamenos is reported to have been deserted by all his followers, except seventeen officers. After the abandonment of Kavalla lie fled to seek refuge either in Bulgaria or at sea. rlis chief-of-staff is believed to have committed suicide. The Helle lias left Kavalla for Salonika under Government orders. DAY OF WARFARE. RETRIBUTIVE MEASURES CONTINUE. HEAVY ARMS EMPLOYED. LONDON, March 11. Sir Percival Phillips, telegraphing to the Daily Telegraph from Athens, reports : ‘The general offensive by the Government forces began early this morning. General Kondylis reports that tho rebels are throwing down their arms and fleeing in disorder. The snow is thick and mist reduced visibility by air to 100 yards. Venizelist deserters are teliing mournful tales of privations due to lack of food. The plain where the operations are taking place is deep in mud, so the Government forces must move slowly. “Athens received the news of the Government victory in Macedonia with relief. The capital thus far is entirely calm. The response of volunteer soldiers to the Government’s call was almost embarrnsing, and they have been sent forward to reinforce the Salonika front, enduring the severe weather with remarkable cheerfulness. Many are still in their civilian clothes without overcoats, even bareheaded. f ‘The Government has issued reassuing statements that no innocent persons will bo punished merely because of their political opinions, but there have been many arrests. “The Government is now ready to take the offensive against the fugitive ships. The old battleship Kilkis has been recommissioned. It has four 12inch guns, against the Averoff’s 9 inch weapons, is seaworthy and has an efficient crew. The Government also has seven destroyers, six, torpedo boats and two submarines.” A later official statement states that General Kondylis at midnight reports that his forces were unable to take Serres on Sunday. Just before nightfall they met with strong resistance seven miles from Serres. General Kondylis adds that he lias taken 200 prisoners and five guns. His losses are two dead and four wounded. “We shall take Serres on Monday morning and then push on to Drama and Kavalla, he says. The Daily Telegraph’s Belgrade and Yugoslav correspondents estimate the opposing armies in the Struma area at about 40,000 each. Near Corinth Royalist mobs attacked and tried to massacre a train load of 200 Venizelist prisoners. The force under General Kondylis crossed the Orliako Bridge this morning and occupied Provata under fire of a rebel mountain-gun battery, which was shelled by bombing aeroplanes and heavy artillery. Government cavalry and infantry crossed the Kourmariani Bridge, the left wing attempting to encircle Demirhissar and the right wing Tzajisi. Reconnaissance machines bombed two trains full of retreating rebels BLAME ON VENIZELOS. Reviewing the origin of the revolt, Sir Percival Phillips says that a captain stationed at Salonika revealed the plot of M. Yenizelos at noon on March 1 to the Governor-General, who was able to ureveht Salonika and the large towns of Macedonia falling into the rebels’ hands. He held manoeuvres in the afternoon, summoned all officers to discuss them at headquarters and then had the building surrounded by loyal troops. The Governor-General telegraphed his discovery to M. Tsaldaris, as Prime Minister. “M. Tsaldaris,” says the correspondent, “granted me an interview to-day and made a statement: ‘We are dealing with one of the worst political crimes in our history, committed by M. Venizelos. He has not hesitated to inflict enormous damage on the country for his own political ends. The country will never forgive him. Fortunately, the country, apart from a few misguided officers and men, has refused to join M. Venizelos’s mad enterprise.’ “Reports from Macedonia give good hope that order will soon be restored. Tire rest of the country has throughout remained absolutely calm arid quiet.”

A SERIOUS POSITION.

BRITISH JOURNALIST’S REPORT.

RETURN OF MONARCHY?

LONDON, March 11. Mr Selkirk Panton, the Daily Express correspondent, from the Yugoslavian border, says:— After an 80-mile dash at night from Salonika in a ramshackle motor-car, afoot, and on a mule, 1 succeeded in escaping from Greece. The car’s brakes failed to act, and the driver and I sprang free as the car crashed into a deep ravine, but a mule ride through the mountains finally brought us to the frontier.

With other foreigners I had virtually been a prisoner in Greece, and was unable tp telegraph or telephone to the outside world. This is an open confession of the seriousness of the situation. It is believed that the Salonika

Government has completely lost its head. , , The British Minister at Athens has protested energetically about a decree which delays or prevents the departure of British subjects. Having lost the fleet, the Government now fears to send aeroplanes lest they desert to the rebels. General Metaxas, temporary Minister of War, is a keen monarchist, and is believed to be using the revolution as, an opportunity to restore the monarchy The names of the Duke and Duchess of Kent are mentioned as a possible King and Queen. AIRWAYS SERVICE. ATHENS OUT OF SCHEDULE. Received March 12, 9.15 a.m. LONDON, March 12. The postal authorities advise that, owing to the unsuitable conditions in Greece, Imperial Airways have suspended the call at Athens and have diverted the route from Alexandria to Benghazi, which will add one day to the flight schedule. ,

- DELAY IN ARRIVAL.

INADEQUATE FACILITIES

Received March 12, 10.10 a.m. LONDON, March 11. The air mail from Australia, which was due in London to-day, has been delayed for two days owing to the longer Mediterranean route necessitated by the Greek revolution,, a so the inadequacy of the meteorological facilities at the temporary stopping places,