Evening star., 1935-03-05
TROOPS REPORTED.
MOVED IN BALKANS.
Turks Said to Be Gathering
Forces on Greek Border
in Civil War.

tCopyrieht 1885 by the Associated Press)
ATHENS, March 5.-Government
bombing planes and heavily armed
loyal troops smashed into massed rebel
forces in the Strume area Of Salonika
today and official reports of heavy
fighting" indicated speedily mount
ing casualty list in Greece's civil war.
Meanwhile, IN Vienna, a wave Of
apprehension swept through the city
when unconfirmed reports indicated
Turkish troops were gathering on the
Greek frontier because of the civil
war in Greece.
Border Guard Strengthened.
The same reports said the Bulgarian
border guard had been strengthened
in view CT the situation in Greek Mace
donia where loyal government troops
are making a desperate drive to sup
press the rebellion
Some refugees frcm the fighting al
ready are said to have arrived at
Petritch in Bulgarian Macedonia
The Greek government troops were
moving in mass offensive against the
Macedonian rebels.
Even as they swung into action 81
bombing planes left the Sedes Air
drome to coordinate bombing attack
against the rebels in the north.
The troops, moving forward. sur
rounded one rebel battalion at Poroi.
and these we're reported to have laid
down their arms. Other revolutionary
troops were captured at Nigritta.
Attack Is Sudden.
The mass attack came with stun
ming suddenness in view of the gov
ernment's announcement yesterday
that the rebels had one day in which
to lay down their arms.
The sudden offensive indicated that
Premier Panayoti Tsaldaris and his
ministers intended to clean up the re-
bellious situation without the loss of
an hours time.
No official word was heard in Athens
as to the whereabouts of former Pre-
mier Eleutherios Constantine Veni-
zelos, whom the government accused
of leading the rebellion. It was as
sumed, however. that he was still in
Crete.
1t was rumored that one of the rebel
warships, the light cruiser Helles,
was standing by in Crete with steam
up ready to transport the 7l-year- -old
Grand Old Man of Greece" to some
foreign haven of refuge.
Aircraft Restricted.
Beginning tomorrow and until fur
ther notice, the Greek government
prohibits all private and commercial
aircraft from landing in Greece. Al
ready the government has stopped the
circulation Of private or commercial
automobiles.
With the Bourse closed, all business
is at a standstill. Athens today ap-
peared to be in the veritable throes
Of war. The government was round
ing up all suspected sympathizers with
the rebel cause and holding them for
courts-martial.
The rebel warships were denied a
haven of refuge at Salonika and were
prevented from making contact with
the land forces by speedy government
action In mining Salonika Harbor.
Gen. George Kondylis, minister of
war, addressed a proclamation to the
rebels in which he characterized We
nizelos as "a mad former prime min
ister" and placed upon his shoulders
the responsibility for any further
bloodshed.
The rebel fleet was reported to be
steaming out of its retreat In SCUBA
Bay, OF the Island of Crete.
Put Into Aegean Sea.
1t was reported to have put out
into the Aegean Sea and to be moving
along the Cyclades. group Of islands
of the east coast of Greece.
Gen. Kondylis in his proclamation
gave the rebels today to declare your
intention to capitulate"
"Venizelos must have been actuated
by q spirit of madness to have en-
barked upon a rebellion against the
government" his statement said.
"The government has no intention
Of killing its citizens. Against the
rebel forces in Eastern Macedonia.
however a large army air force has
been massed. Should 1t be necessary
to bring these into action. RESPONSE
bility will rest upon q mad former
prime minister"
Despite the fact that the mining Of
Salonika harbor appeared to have di-
vided their strength, the Cretan reb-
els were still defiant
Newspapers said the population OF
Crete has risen up against the rebels,
their hostility augmented as result
of the repeated government air at
tacks. Another newspaper report as
serted the government would make
venizelos an outlaw and would try
him by court-martial II he Is ar
rested.