Evening star., 1948-12-24
Military Situation
In Greece Held Worse
Than When Aid Began
Second OF Three Articles.)
By Robert S. Allen
North American Newspaper Alliance

norm AmeftSon N@WSPuPct NHfS"Ss
American officials in Greece
have informed the State De-
partment that the military sit
uation in Greece Is worse now
than it was a year and a half
ago, when the $500, ,000, 900 United
States aid program got under
way.
This report was contained in a
voluminous study on Greece sub
mitted to the State Department and
the Economic Cooperation Admin
istration.
The study, keenly critical of the
Greek government. press and pow
erful commercial interests in that
country, was received by high au-
thorities here at a time when they
are preparing to go before the new
Congress with another request for
more funds for Greece. Henry F
Grady, American Ambassador to
Greece, now in Washington, has
recommended that the State De-
partment ask Congress for an addi-
tional s4O0, 100000 appropriation.
Would Curb Army Politics.
Mr.. Grady contends that this
huge sum is needed to meet in
creased military measures and new
recovery efforts.
The report of the American ON
cials in Greece states categorically
that no increase in the Greek Army
Is necessary to cope with the Com
munist guerrillas. What is needed,
the report declares, is less political
control of the Greek Army and a
more earnest effort on the part of
all Greek elements to set their house
In order.
Although there seems to be gen.
eral agreement among American
military observers in Greece" the
report declares, that the present
government forces of more than
275,000 men are fully adequate to
overcome the guerrilla forces of ap-
proximately $4,000 men, the govern
ment and the Greek general staff
are again pressing for still further
increases in strength and equip
Snent."
The report states that, despite
the Greek Armys defeat of large
guerrilla concentrations in the
Mount Grammos region last sum-
mer, the military situation again
has reached an impasse. This is at
tributed to the failure of three
Greek divisions to pursue and an
nihilate the defeated guerrillas.
American Arms Captured.
After driving the Communists
from their Grammos stronghold, the
Greek divisions sat down and re-
fused to 60 any farther. The result
was that the guerrillas were able to
escape, reform and launch new at
tacks on the flanks and the rear of
the government divisions. The Com
muniStS succeeded in making deep
penetrations into the government
lines and capturing considerable
quantities of American arms and
other supplies.
! The report charges fatty that mil
itary planning and operations have
been hampered and obstructed by
q; constant Greek political interfer-
ence.
, The report reveals that there is
q serious morale problem in the
Greek Army because of the per-
.sistent campaign of the Greek press
on the theme that Greece is the
vanguard of the American crusa6e
against communism.
The report makes the sensational
statement that one reason for Greek
demands for greater American aid
is secret territorial ambitions. It
Is declared that certain nign-placed
Greeks hope that, in the event of
another world war, they will be
able to seize certain adjoining areas
that they would like to annex to
Greece.
copyright, 194sD