GREEKS OFFER RESISTANCE AT LARISSA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16567, 16 June 1917, Page 7

GREEKS OFFER RESISTANCE AT LARISSA.

SHOTS TREACHEROUSLY FIRED AT THE FRENCH. SIXTY GREEK CASUALTIES JN RETURN FIRE. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association LONDON. June 14. Reports from Salonika state that a battalion of French Chasseurs on Monday night took positions between Bala and Larissa, and occupied Elassona and Tiriova, in tho northeast of Greece, without incident Cavalry surrounded Larissa on Tuesday. The Greek general, Baivas, notified the French commander that he would not offer resistance, nevertheless, certain Greeks fired treacherously, six French being killed. The French replied, and the Greeks lost 60. A later report states that 320 Greeks were made prisoners at Larissa, while General Baivis was arrested. The town was occupied at six o'clock on Tuesday morning. (BeceiTefl 11 p.m.) PARIS. June 14. A French communique states that cavalry have occupied Trikala, 30 miles west of Larissa, and a battalion of light infantry has moved to Volo. Larissa and the towns in its vicinity which have been occupied are in Thessaly, the northern portion of Greece, lying immediately behind the allied line which stretches from Valona, on the Adriatic Sea, to the vEgean. Under allied pressure Greece some months ago removed all troops but a few garrisons from Thessaly to Peleponnesus, the southern portion of the country, which is connected with the northern portion by the narrow isthmus of Corinth. The landing of allied troops at Corinth assures command of this isthmus, and supervision over the Greek troops in Peleponnesus A canal four miles long cuts across the isthmus, and the railway from Corinth to Athens is carried over the canal on an iron bridge Command of Corinth, therefore, means command, of communications between northern and southern Greece.