Evening star., 1944-12-10
Greece
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ment leaders in an effort to stop the
armed clashes and find solution
to the nations political problems.
Hope for Favorable Solution.
Lambrakis said:
Efforts have been made in all
directions and hopes are entertained
that a favorable solution may be
reached Sunday or Monday at the
latest. OF course, the British can
not yield, but, nevertheless, "a solu-
ton might be possible through for
nation of a national government
under Themistokles Sophoulis, with
the other parties participating and
including (Premier George Papan-
dreou."
Sophoulis is the 85-year-old dean
of the Liberal party.
A con1munique from Maj. Gen. r.
M. Scobie, British commander in
Greece, disclosed the augmenting of
ELIAS forces. The bulletin added
that progress is being made de-
spite increased hostile activity ON
the part of the rebel forces in the
deliberate demolition Of an impor-
tant bridge in Pireaus," port of
Athens.
Snipers Wear Civilian Clothes.
Within Athens British troops en-
gagged in anti-sniper patrols found
their task difficult because a ma
jority of the snipers wore civilian
clothes, the communique said.
Snipers shot a British ambulance
driver assisting a wounded Greek
civilian and captured the ambulance.
Yesterday in the eastern suburbs
of the city ELIAS units launched
attacks supported by heavy machine
gun and mortar fire, the commune
que added. These were repulsed by
a regular Greek formation.
The British used tanks and fire
from light naval craft to clear the
areas farther south of Fort Leontos
but were held up by strong ELIAS
posoitions in buildings and on high
ground, the bulletin said. These
were sprayed with machine gun fire
in low-level air attacks.
Main Developments.
Today, as reports of discussion
and conciliation few as thick as
the bullets that punctuated the
progress of the fratricidal strug-
gle, these were the main develop
ments aside from the reported sur
render of the ELIAS general:
l. Three of the six leftist minis
ters who resigned from Premier
Papandreou's cabinet told the As
sociated Press they were striving
as mediators with a view of finding
some possible means OF negotia-
tions."
2. The liberal" section of EAM
headed by Ilias Tsirimokos, former
minister of national economy, also
was understood to be breaking away
from EAM.
3. Gen. Stephanos Seraphis, COM
mander in chief of the ELIAS, was
reported reliably to have sent word
to Gen. Scobie that he was remain
ing under Gen. Scobie's command.
Gen. Seraphis' whereabouts have re-
manned a mystery.
4. At least 2 per cent of Athens
was cleared of the ELIAS, and it was
believed that no more than $50 still
were sniping in uncleared sections of
the city.
5. Gen. Scobie was reported insist
ing that the ELIAS quit the Attica
Peninsula, which includes Athens,
as prelude to negotiations.
Three Mediat0rs.
The mediators were former Minis
ter of Transport Nicolas Askoutsis,
former Finance Minister Alexander
Svoloss and Finance Undersecretary
Anghelopoulos, who associated
themselves from responsibility for
the fighting.
Our role" Askoutsis told the
Associated Press, "has been one
of reconciliation and compromise.
However, since Greek affairs have
been complicated, and wound up
in civil war, we have stated on both
sides that we cannot take part in
the strife, the results of which
would be disastrous for our country.
1--WE are now striving as mediators