Greece would not sign an armistice with Italy, a Government spokesman said here yesterday, 'The announcement followed "an' open letter to [Chancellor Adolf Hitler, which ap~ eared in a newspaper here and explained why Greece sought help rom Britain.
"Any idea of an armistice with intoly will find Greece disdainfully hostile," the spokesman said. "Greece will never be interested in discussing peace with Holy and always will be determined to fight to the end."
The open letter to Chancellor Hitter appeared in the morning newspaper "Kathimerini" and was signed by Greece's most influential editor, M, JGeorge Vishos. It asked why Germany wanted to attack Greece, "When Greece realized that Premier Benito Mussolint's signature was valueless," the letter revealed coneefning events prior (o the Italian Greek war, "she did not appeal to England, she appealed to you, But Italy Attache don't know what your answer was, but 1 do know from General JJohh Metaxas' (he late Premier) Jown lips that Germany said we must not mobilize but must remain calm Jand give no pretext to the Italians. This we did: but Italy attacked, "To whom did we then apply for help? To you=you were in Florence Jon the same day, We did not have the necessary forees to remain alone Jand therefore we turned to England who rushed to help us, although she had her own trouble "Since then we all along have de-Heated Italy....not a single Britis soldier set foot in Albania, You told lus Germany would be a spectator Jand would' only intervene. if the British army disembarked at Salonika, "In the meantime, you already are gathering troops in Rumanin and the road to Sofia is being prepared, prob-tably for a march in.
"We Can Save Them! now pte mere of war ina Now ud. cruiser.
The story of the encounter is told an Admiralty communique issued this morning, which states: "A fast Hatlan merchant ship which had been armed with four 4.7 Inch guns and was acting as a commerce raider has been caught in the Indian Ocean by MINS, Leander (Captain RH. Bevan M) a cruiser in the New Zealand "The Italian ship was the Ramb of 3667 tons, and was capable of speed of 18-1/2 knots. She was fying the red ensign when intercepted by the Leander. On being ordered 10 stop she hoisted the Italian colours [end opened fire on the Leander with guns mounted on*her forecastle and poop. H.MS- Leander at once replied, and only fired flva salvoes before the Rump T struck her flag. fow we watch German reaps eross the Danube and enter Sofi How can we not notice that while you. were in Kuls (a pass between Bul-aria and Greece), according to a brondeast to the whole world, that it seems, Germany wants to Invade this to help Italy? If so, we Jean save them!
"Let them evacuate Albanin and their troubles will be over, "You may Jaske what about the British in Greece, We didn't bring them—the' Italians sid, and how can we tell them to leave, how can we say that to the Brilish dead who have lost their lives in our cause?
'We will remain together here till the storm passes, Our Arcy will ght on if necessary, 'Thrae, as has Ebirus and Greece,' will show the World how to fghti"—United Press.
11 Officers, 85 Men Saved "Eleven amicers and ®5 men were picked up by HMS. Leander and fre now prisoners of war. Amongst these picked up were five wounded.
"The Ramb I burned fiercely and sank about 50 minutes later.
Gemage or casualties were sustained by HES, Leander.
"The Leander is a cruiser of 7,270 tons, and is armed with eight G-inch guns. besides which, the cruiser car-Fes aircraft, Completed in 1933. she was lent by the Admiralty to the New Zealand Government.
"H.M.S. Leander is the vessel which gives er name to the class of war-chip to which the Ajax and Achilles of the Battle of La Plata, beler Reuter, Two Trawlers Sunk London. Mar. 9:
The Admiralty announced yesterday that the trawlers Remillo and Cobbers had been sunk and the next of in of crew members notified—United Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.