Metaxas Pleads for Athens as Open City As Britons Awa it Evacuation Athens, Oct. 29.
GENERAL Joh Metaxas, the Premier, yesterday treat Athens as an open city.
Fascist bombers were roaring over Athens as the made his appeal.
Evacuation of 2,500 British subjects from the city has been held up pending the Italian reply.
Although bombs were dropped in various parts of Greece as Mali n troops invaded the country, none fell in Athens proper. yesterday afternoon four Wallan heavy bombers flew aver Athens at-an altitude of more than 10.000" feet." "They bombed areas north of Athens but no bombs. fell Inthe city itself, Pifleen Greek iizhting planes, ramented by antisnlveratt fre, drove off Italian bombers which "attacked the Tatol aerodrome and several bombs had fallen on the (eld, Other Fascist bombers attacked the [port of Patras, directing their deadly loods principally against harbour faci lites, the Palace of Justice and the The population showed no signs of panic.
'The' sireers of Athens yesterday' were: packed with cheering. yelling crowds. "The people waved Greek, American, English and Turkish fags. {All schools were ctased! and thousands of reserve firemen and special police wore called out 10 preserve order.
'The proclamation of King George 11 Was' read over loud speakers, Mate of siege was declared through fut Greece and nationwide mobilization of the civilian population was Metaxas, Inonw Talk Gen, Metaxas held u telephone ce versation with General Ismet Tnonu, the President of Turkey. No details fof. the conversation were announced The Governor of the Athens dlistrict instructions to meet possible emergencies should food or water supplies be suspended, The Mahan ultimatum, demanding military bases. in Greece for the duration of the European war, was handed to Gon, Metaxas by the! allan Minister here at 3 am. yester day. The ultimatum was to expire British Military, Naval Aid Begun London, Oct. 29. British naval assistance for Greece has already begun, Mr. A.V. Alexander, First Lord of the Ad ally. announced today.
He added "I can assure our friends in Greece and America that so far as possible every help which the Royal Navy can give Greece will be gladly rendered."
Describing the "unprovoked and ruthless assault on the Greek nation" by Mussolini as a repetition of the stab in the back to Britain last June, Mr. Alexander said the Navy has done magnificent work in the Mediter= Fanean and Med Sea in recent months.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.