Evening star., 1935-03-10
GREEKS BARRAGE.
PREPARES ATTACK.
TsaIdaris Plans Joint Land
and Air Drive to End
Revolt.
Continued From First Page.)

Continued From First Page)
bombing and Smelling rebel positions
in Macedonia in the beginning of what
was expected to be a decisive battle
of the eight -day-old revolt.
Airplanes rained bombs upon enemy
concentrations in the departments of
Seres, Drama and Kavalla. center
of the tobacco-growing industry. loyal
officers reported.
They said seaplaneS flew to the rebel
island of Crete and bombed Canea,
hcme of former Premier Eleutherios
Venizelos. 70-year- -old leader of the in
surrection.
The newspaper Proia said Venizelos
threatened bodily harm to two high
officials he holds on the Island of
Crete unless the safety of his former
bodyguard, in prison here, is assured.
The newspaper said the Governor of
Crete and cabinet member are pris-
onerS of VenizeloS.
A hint of foreign intervention was
heard for the first time in Athens
when the newspaper Hestia intimated
the likelihood an unspecified power
would step in in the interests of Balkan
peace.
general attack is planned tomor-
row upon rebels in the Struma River
valley of Macedonia. Premier Pana-
yoti Tsaldaris said cit is very possible"
the enemy would lay down their
arms. He claimed there have already
been many desertionS in rebel ranks
: Artillery fire upon Macedonian rebel
POSITIONS continued all night.
In Athens high state of excite
rnent prevailed as news spread OF
definite plans for battle.
Government bombing planes, re-
turning from Crete, reported they had
located and bombed the rebel cruiser
Averoff, causing fresh damage aboard
her. The five rebel ships were believed
seeking safety south of the Island Of
Samos. An attempt also was made
TO bomb an oil tanker entering the
harbor of Erakleion (Candia), Crete,
but the bombs fell behind and before
1t without scoring hit.
40 Bombs Dropped.
In operations on the mainland one
plane was reported to have dropped
40 bombs at Drama and Kavalla, in
Macedonia, causing panic in both
towns and considerable material dam
age. Fire was directed mainly at
Barracks. The planes also dropped
copies of government proclamations
In Thrace
The bombardment against Mace
donian rebels occurred in the flooded
Struma Valley.
Premier Tsaldaris declared the
troops headed by Gen. George Kon-
dylis would take the offensive, no
matter what the weather is"
The premier's belief that opposition
would vanish in the face of an Inten-
sive drive was seized upon in some
quarters as lending color to an I'M
confirmed rumor that surrender of
the land rebels was imminent.
Mystery surrounded the activities
of the rebel feet of five ships. Four
government planes were said to have
taken of for the Island of Crete,
home of Venizelos, to lombard three
towns with explosives and leaflets.
After being checkmated by rain and
snow throughout the week of the re-
bellion, Gen. Kondylis, who gave up
his war portfolio to take active charge
of Macedonian operations, left Sa-
loniki with his general staff for the
front to superintend preparations for
the offensive.
30 Bombs Dropped.
Reports to Athens said his air.
planes, which have been harrassing
rebel positions intermittently, dropped
80 bombs on an artillery detachment
of so men. The effect of the bonn
bardment was not reported.
The Italian destroyer Trenton ar
rived at Piraeus, port of Athens, to
join French and British warships al
ready there.
Reports published abroad that
Athens had been bombarded by the
rebel fleet and that the Tsaldaris gov
ernment had resigned were unfounded.
The extent of the paralysis of
Greek commercial and economic life
caused by the civil war is indicated
by the fact that 18 ships totaling
100000 tons, are in Piraeus Harbor
awaiting permission to sail.
HrAD rrane @veer-.---