CRITICAL PHASE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25737, 8 January 1945, Page 3

CRITICAL PHASE

SITUATION IN GREECE E.L.A.S. TROOPS LEAVE ATHENS (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 6. E.L.A.S. troops withdrawn from Athens are reported to be retreating along three main roads to the mountains. Thousands of citizens of Athens are crowding the streets joyfully displaying relief at the end of the fighting. E.L.A.S. resistance has also collapsed at the Piraeus, from where they are withdrawing to the north in the direction of Thebes. Many are reported to have surrendered. The British United Press correspondent in Athens says that British forces driving north-west from Averoff prison in eastern Athens found the going easy. In some areas there was practically no opposition except for an occasional sniper. British -forces walked into Averoff prison almost without opposition and found it partly in ruins. There is no trace of 100 women prisoners.

Reuter’s Athens correspondent says that R.A.F. planes destroyed 15 and damaged 16 retreating E.L.A.S. motor vehicles.

In a statement tracing the efforts he has made since December 12 to bring about a truce, General Scobie said the original two conditions under which the truce was offered must be considered withdrawn and the new conditions would have to contain provisions regarding prisoners. The E.L.A.S. has taken and continues to take large numbers of British and Greeks as hostages, which is contrary to the rules of civilised warfare. The E.L.A.S. also refused the Red Cross permission to visit prisoners’ camps. General Scobie added that he is still prepared to meet the E.L.A.S. leaders to discuss conditions for a truce suitable to the changed conditions.

“ British-Greek affairs have reached a critical point,” declared toe diplomatic correspondent of toe. Daily Herald. “General Plastiras and his colleagues have now avowed their policy. It is diametrically opposed to the British Government’s policy announced, by Mr Eden in the House of Commons on December 20. Will the British Government now fall into line with the new Greek Prime Minister and put British arms at his disposal to carry out the policy of which it disapproves, or will the Government inform General Plastiras that he cannot count on the support of British troops unless he follows the policy Mr Eden defined? ”

A statement by the Socialist Party and the Union of Popular Democrats in Salonika received by his Majesty’s Ambassador in Athens states that these parties have been in full and complete disagreement with the E.A.M. since the resignation of the E.A.M. Ministers from the Athens Government and the subsequent anti-British policy they adopted. These two parties had declared to the E.A.M. that the British opposition to a dictatorship by either the Right or the Left Wing in Greece was the surest guarantee for tfie democratic liberties of Greece. ' Moreover. the' presence of British troops in Greece guaranteed the integrity of her northern frontiers, which the two parties do not consider free from danger.