REBELS FLEE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20561, 12 March 1935, Page 1

REBELS FLEE.

Officers Forsake Men. 3000 CAPTURED. GOVERNMENT TROOPS ADVANCE RAPIDLY. United Press Assn.—Bv Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received March 12, 11.30 am.) ATHENS. March 11. The Government troops, advancing on Serres at dawn, did not meet resistance. Pushing eastward, they occupied Demirhissar. The rebels, in full flight, evacuated the town of Drama. The rebel officers are fleeing northwards and leaving their men to look after themselves. Three thousand were captured. It is reported that General Kamenos is seeking terms for his surrender. The city is normal. The authorities have resumed their functions in all the towns of Macedonia and Thrace, and field operations have virtually ended. General lonides entered Drama at the lead of tho loyal troops. The population of Serres wildly cheered General Kondylis and his soldiers. General Kamenos, a rebel leader, is reported to have been deserted by all of his followers, except seventeen officers, after the abandonment of Kavalla. He has fled and will seek refuge either in Bulgaria or at sea. His chief of staff is believed to have committed suicide. An official report states that the rebel cruiser Helle was surrendered by her crew after the oifficers had abandoned her during the night. Government troops occupied Serres, in Macedonia, and the rebels are fleeing to Alexandria. It is reported that Rear-Admiral ColiaJixis, the rebel commander of the cruiser Averoff, disguised as an ordinary seaman, arrived aboard a small cargo steamer at Korkyra (Corfu) from Crete. The cruiser Helle has left Kavalia for Salonika, under Government order*. JOURNALIST’S ESCAPE. LONDON. March 11. Mr Selkirk Panton, a ‘‘Daily Express” correspondent telegraphs from the Yugoslavian border: After an eighty-mile dash at night from Salonika in a ramshackle motorcar, afoot and on a mule, I succeeded in escaping from Greece. With other foreigners T have virtually been a prisoner in Greece, unable to telegraph or telephone to the outside world. This is an open confession of the seriousness of the situation. It is believed in Salonika that the Government has completely lost its head. The British Minister at Athens protested energetically about a decree which delays and prevents the departure of British subjects. Having lost its fleet the Government now fears to send its aeroplanes out lest they desert to the rebels. General Metaxas, temporary Minister of War, is a keen Monarchist and is believed to be using the revolution as an opportunity to restore the monarchy. The names of the Duke and Duchess of Kent are mentioned as possible king and queen.