FREED BY BANDITS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20024, 14 August 1928, Page 9

FREED BY BANDITS.

RANSOMED GREEKS' STORY. SAVAGERY OF THEIR CAPTORS. (Received August 13, 7.56 p.m.) Times Cable. XiONDOIs, Aug. 13. The Athens correspondent of the limes says that the brigands who on August 4 captured a party of four men, two of whom they released, received the ransom demanded for the others and set them free. These two, Messrs. Melas and Milonas, marched for 10 hours through the forest and reached Yannina in a demoralised condition. They said they had beeu treated with the utmost savagery and had been bound hand and foot for four days.

A cablegram from Athens on August 5 stated: Five brigands, taking advantage oE a bridge amid hairpin bends on the Yannina Road, ambushed a motor-car. The occupants were three of the Progressive Party's candidates, Messrs. Milonas, Melas and Chassiotis, former deputies, also Mr. Melas' secretary. They were returning from an electioneering tour in the adjacent villages. In spite of the fact that there was a police post two miles away the brigands presented rifles at the victims and captured them. They then took them to the mountains. Mr. Chassiotis and Mr. Melas' secretary were released, the brigands demanding a ransom of £13.000 for the other two men. They warned them that no mercy would be shown the prisoners if the released men informed the authorities. Apparently the ransom will be paid before the brigands are pursued. The Premier, Mr. Venizelos, expresses disgust at tlie outrage, but contends that brigandage, which he promises to extirpate, is a legacy from the former lax Government.