Evening star., 1944-12-09
Riff Reported
Greek
Rebel Leaders
British Clear
Leftists From
Fifth of Athens
BY the Associated Press.


ATHENS, Dec. 9.-A rift de-
veloped today among leaders of
the seven-party Fam coalition
as the British announced that
|one-fifth of Athens had been
cleared of armed bands.
Gen. Stephanos Serafis, command
er in chief of the ELIAS. was
reported to have assured Mai. Gen
r. M. Scobie, head of British and
Allied troops in Greece, that he was
remaining under the latter's com
mand.
Former Transport Minister Ask
outsis, one of six leftists who re-
signed in the dispute over dis
armament of the EAMs military
formations, from the cabinet of Pre-
mier George Papandreou, said in an
interview that he, former Finance
Minister Svolos and Finance Under
secretary Anghelopoulos never be-
ionged to the EAM." They pre-
viously had been identified with the
right wing of the EAM.
EAM Split Reported.
The liberal section of the EAM
headed by former National Economy
Minister Elias Tsirimokos, also was
reported to be breaking away.
Our role said Askoutsis. "has
been one of reconciliation and COM
promise. However, since Greek af-
fairs have been complicated and
wound up in civil war we have stated
to both sides We cannot take part
in a strife the results of which
would be disastrous to the country
We now are striving as mediators
with a view of finding some pos
sible means of negotiations
Although about 20 per cent of the
city was cleared of ELIAS bands
heavy new concentrations of leftist
militia were reported north of the
capital after a march from the
provinces.
Red Cells" Still Active.
The ELIAS within the city were
reported to consist of about $50
death or glory members of inner
Communist cells. There are about
Is of these cells, each with its own
headquarters. scattered over the
capital and suburbs.
THESE die-hards were still sniping
In the uncleared sections of the
city, often at extreme range.
Gen. Scobie was reported to have
demanded that ELIAS troops quit the
Attica Peninsula, on which Athens
and Plraeus are situated, as a
prelude to any negotiations.
The Left Ministers, however, ap-
parently have refused to or dare not,
accept Gen. Scobies demand. Re-
peated attempts by the Archbishop
OF Athens to mediate the dispute
have met with no success.
Hospitals Get Milk.
A one-hour truce was observed
this morning to allow Red Cross
trucks to distribute milk and med
ical supplies to hospitals.
Life in the freed sections of
Athens gradually was returning to
normal. A serious food shortage has
developed, however, and prices are
fantastic.
One of the fiercest battles was
fought in the market place in the
center of town where the ELIAS.
barricaded in buildings and shops
held out until last night. 1t was
only after tanks opened fire and a
few shops and buildings were dam
aged that the defenders surrend-
cred.
While there were large concen-
trations of Leftists outside of Ath-
ems, the British found little open
hostility among many of the Leftist
groups. The British military mis-
sion with the ELIAS at LANAI con-
tinued to function with normal re-
lations,' the British said.
Two British trucks drove $50 miles
from Salonika to Athens without
opposition, although they passed
numerous ELIAS strongholds.
Rebels Unorganized.
Prisoners thus far taken by the
British seem to be unorganized. not
even knowing their brigade end bat
talon commanders.
The British had not supplied
arms to the ELIAS since April. 1943.
but had replaced their ammunition
on small scale. ELIAS in the
(See GREECE, Page A-2.)