The revolt that started in central Albania was spreading fast to the south and Wied's government had ordered the reinforcement of the defensive lines in Pogradec (approx. 40 km northwest of Korça). The Battalion of Kolonja engaged in violent fighting against the rebels on 2 July 1914 and many of their men were killed, among them Zalo Prodani and Gani Butka. The next day the rebel bands of the local pro-Ottoman leader Ethem bey Starova had looted Korça that was successively invaded by the Greek bands under Georges Tsontos-Vardas and the regular Greek army on 4 July, after a probable concord between them.