Ultimatum to Greek Rebels

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 55, 7 March 1935, Page 7

Ultimatum to Greek Rebels

Surrender or be Crushed

LEADER’S SOS TO FLEET

United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. ATHENS, March 5.

“Surrender -within 24 hours or my troops -will crush you,” was ttencrai Condylis’ ultimatum dropped from aeroplanes to tho Macedonian rebels. Upon the expiry of the ultimatum 21 aeroplanes left Seres aerodrome and bombed the rebel forces, whose numbers do not exceed 3000 and who are already hemmed in by Government troops. A bombardment of heavy artillery will launch the second stage of the Government offensive. The rebels are '' believed to have only a few' mountain guns.

Tho rebel commander wirelessed to the rebels’ flagship, the Averoff, to dispatch a cruiser to rescue him. Meanwhile his forces have retreated over the Strymon river. The Government anticipates their dccisivo defeat to-morrow.

Plastiras at Brindisi

WAITING TO PLY TO CRETE Received Wednesday, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, March 5. The Daily Telegraph's Athens correspondent says that Vice-Admiral Demcstichas replied to the Macedonian rebels’ appeal, by saying they must not be impatient as, owing to damage from the bombing planes, the insurgent warships could steam onlj- seven miles an hour. The Daily Telegraph’s Brindisi correspondent says that General Plastiras ha 3 reached there from Cannes, but is afraid to proceed overland, fearing that the Greek Government will arrest him. So he is awaiting an aeroplane to fly to Crete.

The Daily Telegraph’s Sofia correspondent says that the extension of the Greek civil war has alarmed the Bulgarian Government, particularly as Turkey has also sent troops to the frontier. The Foreign Minister (M. Bataloff) today announced that the situation had made it necessary to send considerable reinforcements of infantry and artillery to their own frontiers, but the measures were purely defensive and designed to prevent the fighting extending to Bulgarian soil.

Via North Africa IMPERIAL AIRWAYS NEW ROUTE (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 5. The Greek Government having prohibited civil aircraft from crossing Greek territory from March 5 until further notice, the Imperial Airways are making arrangements through the courtesy of the Italian Government to operate 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 that this deviation will not cause any serious delay to the schedule. Passengers to and from Greece cannot at present be accepted. Prohibition of Civil Aircraft PORT OF SALONICA THICKLY MINED. ATHENS, March 5. The Government has prohibited civil aircraft from flying over Greek territory. A message from Salonica states that the port is thickly mined.