Evening star., 1947-07-11
1000 Rebels Beaten
Back in Battle Near
Albania, Greeks Say
GuerriIIos Declared Trying
To Seize Territory for
New Communist Stute
By the Assoeioted Press

ATHENS, July 1.-THE Greek
general staff said in a commu-
nique today that Greek troops,
despite stiff. resistance, were
pushing westward 1000 guer-
rillas who were attempting to
seize territory near Albania.
Official informants said the guer-
rillas were fighting along pitched
battle line in 6,000-foot peaks of
Mount Grammos, Is miles from the
Albanian border. War Minister
George Stratos said the rebel aim
was to establish a Communist state.
The struggle had been In progress
since June n. 1t is centered ~
miles southwest of Kastoria. MIR.
Stratos said an international brigade
of $500 had been spotted in the
Yugoslav port Of Split.
Offer Determined Resistance.
The rebels were reported offering
determined resistance from behind
fortified points for the first time
since the Greek Army offensive
started April 8. The communique
said two more fortified points had
been taken and that the army cap
tured 10000 rounds OF ammunition,
Is cases of hand grenades, Is NOR
tars and great" number OF rides.
Previously, the guerrillas had been
reported ordered by their leaders
not to make frontal war with the
army or gendarmerie.
The bulk of the iilsurgent force OF
4 900 around Mt. Graminos was be-
lieved to be remnants of rebel bands
broken up in the Pindus, Olympia,
Hassia and Antihassia mountains
during previous months.
Some military circles said the de-
termined guerrilla resistance indi-
Gated an attempt to keep open sup
ply lines to- Albania.
AL terrain in the battle area is
mountainous. All movement is by
foot or by donkey because roads of
consequence do not exist.
Large War Stores Seized.
Gen. Napoleon Zervas, minister
of public order told a news con-
ference that large stores of arms
and ammunition had been seized
in Kavalla, Salonika and other
points and that Communists had
expected to use the equipment in
their plan F" uprising through
out Greece. Gen. Zervas said the
plot had been smashed and that
more than 5000 leaders were under
arrest.
Gen. zervas said guerrilla Gen.
Markos Vifiades had accused revolu-
tionary comrades in Greek cities of
being slow in giving his mountain
| fighters needed assistance.
The minister said Plan F." orders
were issued by insurgents on April
IS and that plan G"-dealing with
an uprising in Athens scheduled
for i am. on July 10-was dated
July 8.
Gen. zervas said arrested Com
munists, many of them high-rank-
ing members of the party, had con-
fessed to parts in the plans, which
Gen. vifiades signed as supreme
commander Of the democratic
army"
Arms Cache Found in Athens.
| During the investigation yesterday
Gen. zervas continued, an arms
cache had been discovered in Athens
which contained % automatic rifles,
six machineguns, two grenades, two
pistols and ~ bayonets.
Gen. zervas said orders issued in
connection with plan F" empha-
sized the necessity of the Creation
of a complete Communist army to
be ready for immediate action"
I'VE have the original order in
this case" the minister declared.
One phase of the plot. he said,
called for organization of strikes
and sabotage ito cultivate the revo-
lutionary spirit 49,:
| He said the arrests and the swift
government action in thwarting the
plot had prevented bloodshed Of in
nocent persons and plotters as well
He said those under arrest could be
charged with high treason" for
which the death penalty is assess
ible.
The Communist-directed newspa-
pers Risospastis and Ell Eftheri FL
lada both published again today
Gen. Zervas said absolutely no gov
ernment censorship was planned.
Mr.. Stratos said in a news con-
ference last night that the army
had dislodged the rebels from theil
Notifications on Mount Grammos
and pushed them back to within q
few miles of the Albanian frontier.
He declared the guerrillas' OBJ
jective was to make room for estab-
| dshment of q IKE Communist
government In the area lying rough
ly west and north Of Kastoria, east
and north Of Konitsa and southeast
Of Koritsa, Albania. They tried te
neutralize the army attack, he said
by infiltration. ~