Crete in Hands of Greek Rebels

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 53, 5 March 1935, Page 7

Crete in Hands of Greek Rebels

Clashes Between Government Bombers and Runaway Warships

Planes Bombard M. Venizelos 3 House

United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright,

Received Monday, 7.5 p.m. ATHENS, March 4

The Tsaldaris Government claims that the Liberal Vcnizelist revolt has been crushed in Greece itself, but the situation

in Crete remains serious

There was relatively small loss of life on Saturday, due to the use of light bombs, but six aeroplanes, carrying two heavy bombs apiece, on Sunday left the mainland to attack the stronghold of the rebels at Crete, where the rebel fleet, under ViceAdmiral Demestichas, is taking refuge. The Government’s instructions previously were to avoid unnecessary damage to the ships, but as Vice-Admiral Demestichas refused unconditional surrender, an aerial bombardment on Sunday commenced in earnest.

The Government bombers badly damaged two destroyers north-east of Crete, while one damaged submarine capitulated and has been taken back to Greece. Another was sinking when taken in tow' to Crete by the rebel ships. In addition to the Governor of the island, the rebels arrested the' Prefect of Caudia. Aircraft from the mainland dropped leaflets appealing to the loyalty of tho island population. Government aircraft, after bombarding the cruiser Averoff and other warships in the Gulf of Suda, located M. Venizelos’ house, near Crete, swooped to within 150 feet and turned on machine-guns. They are reported to have killed and wounded many Tebels. Tho rebels’ gunfire against tho aircraft thus far has been ineffective.

mutineers retain possession of five warships, which are believed to have reached Crete. The extent of the damage three warships suffered by Saturday’s air bombing is not yet ascertainable. The cruiser Averoff was again bombed at Souda Bay, near Canca, to-day. Artillery have been dispatched to Kara Point, ten miles from Salonika, which is under martial i'aw, in order to bomb rebel ships if they attempt to enter tho harbour. It was officially announced later that aeroplanes had bombed two rebel warships. The damage is unknown. According to the Times’ Athens correspondent, Cretan Venizclists revolted when tho rebel fleet approached anfl superseded the Governor by a Cretan colonel.

It seems that the loyal remnant of the Greek fleet is too weak to offer battle to tho rebels’ ships. M. Venizelos is himself a Cretan, and the island has generally remained loyal to him throughout the astonishing vicissitudes of his career. President Zaimis, with Cabinet’s approval, has given full authority to Generals Condyli and Metaxas and Admiral Dousmanis to uso any measures to crush tho revolt. Messages received late yesterday report that a revolution has broken out in Thrace.

The Arsenal Paymaster Siochus was fatally wounded when delivering an ultimatum to the rebels at the Evzones barracks. He was buried without a demonstration in the presence of a large crowd. ,

Tho police have discovered stores of hand-grenades, rifles and ammunition in the house of M'. Venizelos. The first intimation of revolutionary activity in Macedonia is tho news that Government troops captured Scrres from the rebels, who are withdrawing eastward. The War Minister, M. Gondylis, is going to Macedonia shortly to supervise operations. M. Mctaxa3 is replacing him at Athens. Several important non-political personages are offering their services to M. Zaimis in the hope of restoring unity.

Insurgents’ Success at Crete

CONTROL OF PRACTICALLY WHOLE ISLAND

Anti-Republican Activities

Received Monday, 10.30 p.m. , LONDON, March 4. A stringent censorship is being enforced at Athens.

ANIMOSITY AGAINST M. TSALDARIS Received Monday, 7.5 p/m. LONDON, March 4. The Manchester. Guardian’s Athens correspondent says that the revolt is ascribable to animosity between followers of M. Tsaldaris’ Peoplo’s Party, which represents the Monarchists, many of whose former leaders were executed under General Plastiras’ revolutionary Government in 1923. General Plastiras attempted to revolt when the Monarchists were victorious at the 1933 elections, but ho had to seek refuge in Egypt. M. Tsaldaris’ antiRepublican activities led to the revolution among the army and navy, who believed that the Government, intended to abrogate the law which exiled the Royal family in 1924.

The outstanding fact in messagos from Greece is the success of tho insurgents at Crete, where practically the wholo island is in the hands of the rebels. The attack on M. Venizelos’ house recalls an incident 40 years ago, when tho fleets of the Great Powers were firing upon Cretan insurgents and shot down the Cretan standard. The youthful Venizelos raced through tho bullets and lifted tho flag, causing the Austrian seamen who fired tho lucky shot to cheer. Tho Daily Express’ Athens correspondent says Vice-Admiral Doinestiehas had opened negotiations with tho Government for conditional surrender, but, learning that M. Venizelos had thrown in his lot with the rebels, broke off the negotiations.

The News-Chronicle's Athens correspondent; says that M. Venizelos is reported to have constituted a committee of three to control part of Crete, where his influence is strongest. ' The Daily Mail’s Athens correspondent says that the aeroplane squadron was ordered to sink or secure the surrender of the runaway warships. This evening they rained death on these vessels oil Crete. The squadron leader reported that two destroyers were seriously damaged. The bombers, after refuelling, wound resume the attack. Meanwhile, the rebel destroyers, attempting to beach a submarine, were bombarded to sinking point.

Tho Daily Mail’s Athens correspondent says that all travel throughout the country is forbidden without special permission. Civilians arc forbidden to appear in tho streets after S p.m. All civil aeroplanes have been commandeered and places of entertainment are closed. The Government emphasises that the situation throughout the country is under control.

General Plastiras Interviewed at Cannes DIFFERS FROM VENIZELOS CANNES, March 3. General Plastiras, in the course of an interview, declared that the present rulers of Greece were more unpopular than ever. There is a complete rupture between the Government, which is really Monarchical, and the Republicans. He said: "I will not return to Greece except with full authority. I shall never ucccpt office with Venizelos. lam a groat friend of Venizelos, but we don’t seo things the same way. He is a Parliamcntaiian and I am a soldier. I wish to establish a democratic military dictatorship. ’ ’

State of Siege Proclaimed in

Athens

REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENT ATHENS, March 3. A state of siege has been proclaimed at Athens, and several articles of the Constitution suspended. M. Tsaldaris has taken over the portfolio of the Foreign Minister, M. Maximos, now in Paris, who resigned prior to the revolt. Admiral Douzmanis becomes Minister of Marine, and M. Schinas Air Minister.

The Opposition leaders, M. Cafadaris and M. Papanastasiou, were discovered hiding in M. Venizelos’ house and were arrested.

M. Vonizei'os is reported to have issued an auti-Government proclamation, inviting Cretan Senators and Deputies to attend a special meeting. While tho Government has detained Senators and Deputies representing Salonika, quiet prevails on the mainland. Courts-martial are being constituted for the trial of rebels, but .the