STATE OF SIEGE

Taranaki Daily News, 5 March 1935, Page 7

STATE OF SIEGE

CHANGES IN CABINET

QUIET ON THE MAINLAND

MACEDONIA DISTURBED

ATHENS STREET FIGHTING

SIXTY REPORTED KILLED

By Telegraph—Press Assn—Copyright. Athens, March 3.

A state of siege has been proclaimed in Athens and several articles of the Constitution have been suspended. M. Tsaldaris. the Prime Minister, has taken over the portfolio of Foreign Minister from M. Maximos, who is now at Paris and who resigned prior to the revolt. Admiral Douzmanis becomes Minister of Marine and M. Sehinas Air Minister.

The Opposition leaders, M. Cafadaris and M. Papanastasiou, who were discovered hiding in M. Venizelos’ house, were arrested.

M. Venizelos is reported to have issued an anti-Government proclamation inviting Cretan senators and deputies to attend a special meeting, while the Government detained senators and deputies representing Salonica. Quiet prevails on the mainland. Courtmartials are being constituted for the trial of the rebels, but the mutineers retain possession of five warships which are believed to have reached Crete. The extent of damage to three warships suffered m Saturday’s bombing is not ascertainable. The cruiser Averoff again bombed Souda Bay, near Canea, to-day. Artillery was dispatched to Kara point, 10 miles from Salonica, which is under martial law, In order to bomb the rebel ships if they attempt to enter the harbour. It was officially announced later that aeroplanes had bombed two rebel warships. The damage is unknown. VENEZELISTS’ UPRISING. The Times’ Athens correspondent says that the Cretan Venezelists revolted when the rebel fleet approached and superseded the Governor by a Cretan colonel. The Dally Mail’s Athens correspondent says that the aeroplane squadron, ordered to sink or secure the surrender of the runaway warships, this evening rained death on these vessels off Crete. The squadron leader reported that two destroyers were seriously damaged. The bombers, after refuelling, would resume the attack.

Meanwhile the rebel destroyers, attempting to beach a submarine, were bombarded to sinking point. The first intimation of revolutionary activities in. Macedonia is news that Government troops captured Serras from the rebels, who are withdrawing eastward. The War Minister, M. Kondylis, is going to Macedonia shortly to supervise operations, M. Metaaxas replacing him. Several important non-political persons are offering their services to President Zaimis in the hope of restoring unity.

Sixty were killed in street fighting at Athens. The police arrested M. Papanastasiou, head of the Agrarian Labour Party, and many others.