The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-12-16
By ROBERT vERNITT.I.ION

Athens, Dec. i6-tUp)--A shell fragment whlned through a window and ripped away the left side Of Apostolou Nastos face. He died e few hours later with a crude ban- dage over the open wound.
 Three Americans were partially responsible for Apostolou Nastos death. We had been reported miss ing in bandit" territory and Greek army units had come to the village of Lou1estia to rescue us.
 We didn't need rescuing, though. We weren't in any danger. The three of us--John Phillips, of Time and Life magazines, Tom Politics, a oreek-speaking New York artist, and I--had abandoned our jeep in the courtyard of tiny inn near the guerilla frontier.
 Wanted To Talk To Bandits
 Our purpose was to talk with the Andartes, or leftist bandits. The jeep broke down and we had to go the rest of the way by muleback and on foot The Andartes country comprises 54 villages and some 25,- 900 people in the mountainous bad lands of Northern Greece. The area is about l50 miles North of Athens, in Northern Thessaly and Thrace.
 The Battle of Louzestia," de- signed to rescue" us, began the afternoon of Dec. 9. Greek army units waded across the swift-flow- ing Pinios River, which forms the boundary between government and guerrilla territory. They found the jeep and were told that we had proceeded by muleback to Kastania, a village nine miles to the West. This they learned from the pro- prietor of the inn.
 Instead of heading West, the army unit-of about 70 men--turned South toward Louzestia, about mile and half away.
 We heard the fighting begin at 3 P. M. Fifty guerrillas opened fire on the advancing soldiers. The three of us were on a mountaintop. The valley echoed with the crunch of exploding mortar shells and rifle fire. One of the shells landed 70 yards from Apostolou Nastos home. He was standing at the window when the shell fragment struck him in the face.
 Village Almost Deserted
 When we reached Louzestaa, which is some five miles behind the guerrilla lines, about half the population of 270 had fled into the hills beE.nd the town. On Dec. II the village was empty, except for a few men building a coffin for Nas- tro and six women who were kneel- ing near his body. The guerrillas expected a second attack. The army troops had withdrawn after heavy fighting.
 They were looking for you" an old woman said. we are happy that you've come to talk to us and we want you to stay-but there are few here to talk to now and one who' will talk no more"
 In Northern Thessaly, just 54 miles West of Larissa, the entire area is streaked with human misery. There are no doctors. People are hungry most of the time. The Andartes, or armed groups of the oppressed" as they call themselves, have taken over the territory. Four Andartes leaders represent all the law" there is.
 I wanted to find out the why" of all this. Why the Andartes fight the government? What it is they want that the government won't give them? Apostolou Nasto,s death makes this information seem pretty valuable now. Here's what I discov- cred.
 Led By Young Catholics
 Most of the Andartes are young men. They are Catholics and deeply religious. Most of them were mem bers of the Elas leftist resistance movement during the German -Ital- ian occupation. They fight now for the same reasons they fought then, according to their statements.
 Four leaders command the ap- proximately 800 armed Andartes in Northern Thessa!y. The armed men in turn police" the 54 villages un- der Andartes control. There as a system of taxes to provide food and ammunition. Andartes headquarters Is a rowing" headquarters. Only the top officers know where it's to be established at given time.
 The Andartes talked with listed these demands: CD A general am- nesty I've can depend upon," (2) withdrawal Of British troops, (3) ar- rest of all former Axis collaborators and (D new free" elections with