CRETE REVOLT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22058, 14 March 1935, Page 11

CRETE REVOLT

COMPLETE FAILURE VENIZELOS A REFUGEE LANDS ON ITALIAN ISLAND "FINISHED WITH POLITICS" By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received March 13, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 12 Ths revolt in Crete has ended and the Government's authority has been re-established in all the Aegean islands, including Mitylene, Samos and Chios.

All the rebel warships, except the cruiser Averoff and one submarine surrendered to the Government in Suda, Bay. Officers from the destroyers Psara, Leon and Nireus had previously boarded the Averoff, which steamed away with M. Venizelos and his wife and 100 rebel officers on board.

Their destination was the Italian island of Rhodes, to the north-east of Crete.

M. Venizelos and his party were landed on Rhodes after whicla the vessel proceeded to Salainis arsenal, near Athens, the intention of those left on board being to surrender. The Daily Mail's Rhodes correspondent states that in an interview M. Venizelos expressed his bitter disappointment at the failure of the revolt. He said: "I have finished with politics. Greece will never see me again.

" My only wish was to unite Greece and Crete in enduring friendship on the highest level of prestige. I did not promote the revolution, but it was the only hope of achieving the great future I had dreamed of for Greece. I hope to take refuge with friends in France or England.''

A message from Athens states that M. Venizelos will he tried in absentia. His property will be sold and his private house will become the residence of the Mayor of Athens. Martial law will be enforced until the courts martial are completed. It is expected that 300 rebels will be tried.

The Rome correspondent of the Mail says the Italian authorities interned M. Venizelos and his party, but probably they will be liberated after the establishment of their identity and whe:a they have complied with other formalities, as Italy does not usually extradite political prisoners. , M. Venizelos probably will be regarded as a political refugee and therefore may not be handed over to Greece. General Papoulos, a former commander of the Anatolian rebels, surrendered. General Anagnostopoulos, commander at Seres, fled in a motorboat with five officers. , . General Kamenos will be interned at Karlovo with his companions. AEROPLANE SHOT DOWN PRESS PARTY FROM PARIS^ OCCUPANTS NOT INJURED _____ PARIS. March 12 The Paris-Soir, in the hope of securing a "scoop," despatched an aeroplane to Crete with a wireless operator and a woman reporter on board, who entered the urgent plea that rebels should be instructed not to shoot. The latter, however, shot down the aeroplane at Canea, mistaking it for a Government machine. The pilot made a skilful landing without injury to himself or his passengers. The reporter promptly wirelessed that the population had suffered little and that no blood had been spilt, adding that the rebel leaders, prior to departing in the Averoff, looted the treasuries of Candia and Canea. (This received an immediate official contradiction from Athens.) M. Venizelos' attempt to constitute a Government in Crete had received little support. The reporter, Mademoiselle Titayna, actually secured an interview with M. Venizelos on board the Averoff, but the text of it is copyright.