GREEK CRISIS

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVI, Issue 23078, 18 December 1944, Page 5

GREEK CRISIS

ARMISTICE TERMS Reported Agreement By EAM By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright (Rec. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 16. Greek sources in touch with the Left Wing state that EAM, replying to Lieutenant-General R. M. Scobie’s armistice terms, agreed to evacuate Attica and order ELAS supporters in the Athens-Piraeus area to cease resistance and hand in their arms. This was reported by the Athens correspondent of Reuter’s, who adds that the reply was delivered at General Scobie’s Headquarters at noon today. Tbe reply demanded the withdrawal of the Greek Mountain Brigade to outside the Athens area. The disbandment of guerrillas would be carried out as soon as the order was given by the new Government of National Unity, implying that EAM regards the formation of a new Government as an essential condition for the termination of hostilities. General Scobie has ordered the commander of EDES. General Zervas, to remain strictlj' on the defensive and to make no offensive move that might provoke war between his forces and ELAS. The Greek War Ministry called to the Colours all men residing in the Athens area belonging to the 1934-40 classes.

The Athens correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph Agency says that fighting became bitter at noon. The action is most serious around Ornonia Square and near the infantry barracks. Police headquarters have been destroyed and four w r ere killed and 12 injured when a mortar shell fell in the main street of Athens to-day. It dropped amongst civilians who were searching for fbod during the city’s midday curfew break. ELAS forces, mortaring and shelling the centre of Athens to-day, directly hit the Hotel Grand Bretagne, General Scobie’s Headquarters, reports the Athens correspondent of the British United Press. Spitfires at noon to-day strafed rebel positions on Strefi Hili, whence mortar fire was directed against central Athens. Since the beginning of the fightingin Athens, 2800 members of ELAS are reported to have been taken prisoner, 600 killed, and 400 wounded. General Scobie’s communique states that good progress has been made in clearing the areas of Piraeus. Our troops last night cleared a stronglyheld feature east of the main harbour. There is no change in the situation in Athens and fighting' continues in Krioneri, in western Greece. Royal Navy ships and planes are supporting the ground troops. Attack on Indian Troops British headquarters in Athens states: “Insurgent forces made an unprovoked attack on Friday morning on Indian troops on the mainland north of Patras. In Athens and Piraeus fighting has continued after a temporary lull. On Thursday insurgent artillery was again in action against the centre cf Athens. In Piraeus, an attack, supported by mortar fire, on British troops at the western end of Phaleron Bay, was repulsed after heavy fighting. Guerrilla activity in the Salonika area continues and the situation has not eased.”

Gunfire continued all night in Athens, in spite of heavy rain, states the correspondent of ’ Reuter’s in Athens. The firing was due to offensive action by Greek and British forces in the eastern suburbs. British 25-pound-ers kept up a continuous fire against ELAS positions on Stadium Hill, half a mile from the Hotel Grand Bretagne These members of the ELAS forces have so far successfully resisted artillery and air attacks. No further ELAS reinforcements have been observed moving toward Athens, while more British reinforcements, including tanks and artillery, are reaching the Athens area. It is likely that the clearing up of the city from a purely military point of view will take less time than’ was originally estimated on the basis of the small force at Lieutenant-General Scobie’s command 10 days ago. British Forces Now “Strong” British reinforcements continue to arrive in Athens by sea and air, states the Athens correspondent of the British United Press. The British forces can now be described as “strong.” A dozen terrific explosions rocked Omonia Square last night when ELAS troops blew up houses in a narrow street, creating road blocks. The centre of Athens was noisy from late this afternoon until dark. Spitfires swooped down and machine-gunned the park around the new Stadium and Stadium Hill, which ELAS forces have converted into a strongpoint. At the same time the ELAS forces shelled Constitution Square, the British headquarters. A large number of Athenians are approaching starvation point although 13 tons of flour, about three days’ ration for 35,000 people, has been delivered. The strikes in Athens and Salonika have now spread to other ports, and relief is virtually at a standstill throughout Greece. Important Developments .Several important developments in the Greek situation reported to-night have brought fresh hope of a settlement states the Athens correspondent of Reuter's. Archbishop Damaskinos, Metropolitan of Athens and Archbishop of Greece, whom all factions respect for his stand during the German occupation, announced that he had been approached and would become a Regent. The Central Committee of ELAS, replying to General Scobie’s terms, suggested: “(1) The formation of a Government of National Unity. “(2) The temporary withdrawal of the Greek Mountain Brigade and the Sacred Brigade from the AthensPiraeus area. “(3) The disarmament of the Gendarmerie. “<4> No further employment, of British forces in internal affairs in Greece and no use of British influence in the formation as speedily as possible of a Government of National Unity.” This ELAS reply agreed temporarily

to the withdrawal of ELAS forces from Athens and Piraeus.

General Scobie, replying to this memorandum, welcomed the suggested withdrawal of ELAS forces from attack but pointed out that the memorandum did not mention his stipulation that, all ELAS supporters in Athens and Piraeus should cease resistance and hand in their arms. He would insist on a satisfactory fulfilment of this condition, which lie would report immediately to Field-Marshal Sir Harold Alexander. General Scobie reiterated that one jf the first steps necessary to <mrt ti “ turmoil must be the disbandment of all irregular forces, wh:. lexer he: political creed with a view to tire reconstitution of regular natic.ril forces