Evening star., 1947-12-24
Reinforcement
Proc|aiiI11edby
GreekGuerri||as
Broadcast Declares
Vifiudes Premier;
Elias Urged to Arm
BY the Associofed Press

ATHENS, Dec. 24.-Guerrilla
radio broadcasts today pro-
claimed establishment of a Com
munist government in North
ern Greece under Gen. Markos
VfadeS and called on members
of the left-wing Elias to take
up arms"
Premier Themistokles Sophoulis
told neWsmen the vaguely located
rump state likely would be recog-
nized Immediately by the Com
nist-dominated northern neigh
bors of Greece-Yugoslavia, AL
bania and Bulgaria. All three have
been accused by a United Nations
commission of abetting the civil
strife in Greece.
Greek military authorities have
insisted that the Communists could
not hold a given area in Northern
Greece for 48 hours. One high mill
tary leader said the proclamation
of a Communist state would lead
to an early solution of the guer-
rilla problem because the army
could wipe out the rebels in
frontal battle.
Use Retreating Tactics.
Only in rare instances so far have
the guerrillas offered resistance to
Greek Army movements. Their tao
tics are to retreat and inflltrate
after the army leaves.
The Athens and army radios
which monitored the broadcasts
said only vague details were given.
Authorities in Salonika expressed
belief the broadcasts originated in
Yugoslavia. Communist sources re-
Gently said the government would
be established in 300 wild, noun
famous square miles on the Alban-
ian borders around Konitsa.
Gen. Vif1ades, long-hunted chief
Of the guerrillas, was reported to
be the Premier and Minister of War.
Ionnides is Deputy Premier.
The broadcasts said John Ionni-
des, old-line Communist in charge
of undercover activities of the party
for many years, was to be deputy
premier and minister of interior
Ionnides was reported to have
signed during the wartime occupa-
tion the "Petritsa agreement" with
Bulgarian Communists, ceding
Greek territory to Bulgaria.
P. P. Russos, one of the Com
munist leaders Of the Greek army
and navy mutiny in the Middle East
during the war, was named foreign
minister. He is under a death SEN
tence imposed by a Greek naval
court. Miltiades Popphyrogennis,
minister of labor in a Liberation
Greek cabinet which contained sew
eral avowed Communists, was
named minister of justice.
Other announced cabinet officers
were Bartzokas, leader of the Com
munist revolution in Athens in 1914,
finance minister; Cocalis, minister
of welfare and education; and
Vladas, member of the Communist
Central Committee and head of the
Communist movement in Crete,
minister of agriculture.
Under EAM Guidance.
The audible parts of the guer-
rillas' broadcasts said the state was
under guidance of the EAM and
under action of the Elias" the
armed branch of the EAM party.
The account said the aim of the
rump regime was to reaffirm the
rights and freedoms of the Greek
people.
A speaker said the government
will be at - but interference
drowned out his voice
Porphyrogennis was quoted as say
ing the Communist government
was established to tighten relations
with Russia and other democratic
countries" and that first aims would
be to hold elections and form a
strong army. Greece is the only
Balkan state in which Russian in
f1uence is not dominant.)
Clarifies Red Position.
Foreign minister Constantin Tsal-
daris said after meeting with Greek
cabinet members that the establish