REBEL COUP

Taranaki Daily News, 5 March 1935, Page 7

REBEL COUP

GRECIAN REVOLT

IN COMMAND OF CRETE

BOMBING OF THE FLEET

CLAIM BY GOVERNMENT

“REVOLUTION CRUSHED”

By Telegraph—Pres» Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 7.5 p,m. Athens, March 4.

The Tsaldaris Government claims that the Liberal Vpnizelist revolt has been Crushed in Greece itself, but that the situation in Crete remains serious. There was a relatively small loss of life on Saturday, due to the use of light bombs. Six aeroplanes carrying two heavy bombs apiece on Sunday left the mainland to attack the stronghold of the rebels at Crete, where the rebel fleet under the command of Vice-Admiral Demestichas is taking refuge at Sto. Government instructions previously were to avoid unnecessary damage to the ships, but as Admiral Demestichas refused to surrender unconditionally an aerial bombardment was commenced in earnest. Government bombers badly damaged two destroyers north-east of Crete. One damaged submarine capitulated and has been taken back to Greece, and another sank when being taken in tow to Crete by the rebel ships, >ln addition to the Governor of the island the rebels arrested the prefect of Candea. - Aircraft from the mainland dropped leaflets appealing to the loyalty of the island population. Government aircraft after bombarding the cruiser Averoff and other warships in the Gulf of Souda located M. Venizelos’ house near Crete, swooped within 150 feet and turned on their machineguns. They are reported to have killed or wounded many rebels. The rebels’ gunfire against the aircraft has thus far been ineffective. It seems the loyal remnant of the Greek fleet is too weak to offer battle with the rebels’ ships. M. Venizelos is himself a Cretan and the island generally has remained loyal to him throughout the astonishing vicissitudes of his career. President Zaimis, with Cabinet’s approval, has given full authority to Generals Condyli 'and Metaxas and Admiral Dousmanis to use any measures to crush the revolt SPREAD TO THRACE s Messages received late yesterday report that a revolution has broken out in Thrace. The Athens correspondent of the Manchester Guardian says the revolt is ascribable to animosity between the followers of M. Tsaldaris’ People’s Party, which represents the monarchists, many of whose former leaders were executed under General Plastiras’ revolutionary Government in 1923. General Plastiras attempted a revolt when the monarchists were victorious in the 1933 elections, but had to seek refuge in Egypt. M. Tsaldaris’ anti-republican activities led to the revolution of the army and navy, which believed that the Government intended to abrogate the law which exiled the Royal family in 1924. The London News-Chronicle’s Athens correspondent says that M. Venizelos is reported to have constituted a committee of three to control the part of Crete where his influence is strongest.

A stringent censorship has been enforced at Athens. The outstanding fact in messages from Greece is the success of the insurgents at Crete, where practically the whole island is in the hands of the rebels.

The air attack on M. Venizelos’ house recalls an incident 40 years ago when the fleets of the Great Powers were firing Upon Cretan insurgents and shot down a Cretan standard. The youthful Venizelos raced through the bullets and lifted the flag, causing the Austrian seamen who fired the lucky shot to cheer. The Athens correspondent of the Daily Express says that Vice-Admiral Demestichas had opened negotiations with the Government for conditional surrender, but learning that M. Venizelos had thrown in his lot with the rebels he broke off the negotiations. The Daily Mail’s Athens correspondent says all travel throughout the country is forbidden without special permission. Civilians are forbidden to appear in the streets after 8 p.m. All civil aeroplanes have been. commandeered. Entertainments are closed. The Government emphasises that the situation throughout the country is under control.