The liberation struggle of EOKA 1955-59 and the Chloraka coast

THE SAINT GEORGE CAIQUE Following the secret arrival of EOKA leader Dhigenis in Cyprus, The Secret Committee for the Struggle in Athens hired the small petrol-driven caique "Saint George". Its captain was Evangelos Louca Koutalia- nos, who had visited Cyprus earlier in secret as cap- tain of the "Siren" to deliver a cargo of arms and ammunition. Also aboard the "Saint George" were the shipowner Anargyros Mellos and the crew members Michalis Christodoulakis and Michalis Alifrangis. The boat sailed from Perama near Piraeus for Rhodes on 13 January. From Rhodes it sailed for Cyprus on 23 January after taking Argyris Karademas on board. The British were aware of the boat’s movements from the beginning and the patrol boat "Charity" searched the sea while police kept watch from the shore. Archbishop Makarios and Leader Dhigenis were informed of the betrayal early on but despite their efforts they were unable to inter- cept the boat. The "Saint George" arrived on the evening of 25 January at a place known as "Rodafinia", 1500 metres south west of "Alyki". A team of seven freedom fighters from Chloraka waited to collect the boat’s cargo. The seven men were team leader Costas Leonida, Christakis Evzonas, Kyriakos Mavronicolas, Michalis Papantoniou, Nicholas Pentaras and Christodoulos Pentaras. Also present was the member of the Athens Secret Committee Socrates Loizides who was to board the craft and return to Greece.