Evening star., 1947-07-17
Poland Demands Coalition Rule
And New Elections in Greece;
Rebels Retreat Into Mountains
Government Units
Fail to Intercept
Fleeing GuerriIIos
BY The Associated Press


ATHENS, July 17.-Military
circles expressed belief today
that survivors of the $500 guer-
rillas-who, the government Said.
invaded Greece from Albania
Sunday-had withdrawn sue
cessfully eastward toward the
towering Mount Grammos range
near the frontier.
Only scattered minor clashes
were reported in the Mount Camilla
area.
The rebels retreat was noted yes
terday when Greek army units at
tackled north of Ioannina, but failed
to contact the main force. Military
infornants said they believed the
insurgents were trying to reach
their comrades on Mount Grammos,
where national forces were marrying
another group of 1000. The larger
party failed in an attempt to cap
ture Ioannina, capital of Epirus.
Greek troops watched closely for
developments along the Yugoslav
and Albanian borders from Florina
to Konitsa, an area full of possihil-
titles of new eruptions of border bat
tie.
Communist Regime Demanded.
Despite their apparent reversal,
the guerrilla chieftain, Gen. Mar
kos Vifiades, was reported in the
Communist dominated newspaper
Eleftheria Ellada to have issued a
proclamation over a guerrilla radio
asserting 1t was absolutely neces-
sary to create an independent, Com
munist government in what he
termed the free regions
The purported broadcast was said
to have proclaimed that the guer-
rillas were willing" to come to an
agreement, but that establishment
of a free state was necessary. One
of the aims of the free state" was
to free Greece from Intervention
whose aim is to turn Greece into
the starting point for war in the
Balkans"
The Communist newspaper Rios
pastis said headquarters of the
Greek democratic army" (guerril-
las) had established the radio sta
ton within Greece and that II
broadcast two hours a day. For
eign Ministry sources said the sta
ton had been heard for two days
and that because OF its power. it was
believed to be outside Greece, per-
haps in either Belgrade, Yugoslavia,
or Sofia, Bulgaria. where facilities
have been allocated for propaganda.
The broadcast contained no indi-
cation that the guerrillas intended
to lay down their arms under con-
ditions of current amnesty for polit-
ical offenses. The proclamation was
quoted as saying the guerrillas
would abstain from activities and
would recognize free elections"
The government said that during
the first week of July, 2l0 guerril-
las were killed. $50 wounded, IA
captured and that so surrendered
Artillery Pounds Guerrillas.
The guerrilla retreat followed the
launching of a full-scale assault late
Yesterday by<reinforced government
troops, who earlier had halted the
invasion thrust near the village OF
Negradhes, about 10 miles north OF
Ioannina.
The way for the attack, was paved
by a heavy artillery bombardment
of guerrilla forces in an area fnclud-
ing the villages of Kato, Pedina, Ano
Elatohori, Paleolouta and Aspran-
gelos, scattered along the slopes OF
Mount Camilla.
Greek warplanes supported the
attacking government forces by
strafing guerrilla positions.
The only serious resistance was
reported In Elatohori and Aspran-
gelos, where more than 800 guer-
rillas were said to have been wiped
out.
Rear Units Eliminated.
Military sources said government
troops quickly followed UP the guer-
rilla withdrawal and were eliminat-
ing rear, guard units left to cover
the retreat.
Meanwhile, Gen. Napoleon zervas,
Minister of Public Order, declared In
Athens that statements made by
leftist prisoners indicated that two
of the eight battalions compris-
ing the invading guerrilla forces
were composed of Foreigners"
Gen. Zervas did not specify the
nationality of the foreigners.
Government sources previously had
charged, however, that the force
said to have struck across the Al
banian border contained elements
of "an international brigade"