EVACUATION OF GREECE

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23315, 29 April 1941, Page 9

EVACUATION OF GREECE

Withdrawal Begun GERMAN MENACE TO TURKEY CcrjrrriD press association—copyright.) (Received April 28, 11 p.m.) LONDON, April 28. The evacuation of Greece by the Forces of the Empire has begun. This was announced in Sydney to-day by Mr P. C. Spender, the Federal Minister for the Army, who said: ‘The evacuation of our troops from Greece has begun. So far as it has proceeded, it has been successful.” The last independent messages from Athens say that most of the British troops left the Athens district on April 25, amid moving scenes. Cheering crowds shouted “Au revoir.” An Ankara message says it is reliably reported that the Germans have occupied the Aegean islands of Mytilene and Chios, presumably by using aeroplanes and parachute troops. Chios has been a landing place for British and foreign refugees in all sorts of craft from Greece. Earlier messages reported the occupation of the islands of Thasos and Skyros. Turkish newspapers to-day for the first time are openly discussing the German menace, especially the threat inherent in the occupation of the Aegean islands. Tkdam” says: “The British used Lemnos in the last war to cut off the Dardanelles and threaten Turkey. There is a great resemblance in the German occupation. The Germans will use torpedo-boats, cutting off Britain and Turkey.” “Vatan,” discussing prospective German demands, says: “There will be no compromise and no yielding, but resistance to all demands. Our Government is prepared to accept even the smallest demands as a declaration of war.”

pushed forward across the Gulf of Patras and having overcome enemy resistance occupied the seaport of Patras.” German troops are reported to be streaming into Athens. It is reported that the Luftwaffe ringed Athens with bombs, and machine-gunned people in the roadl round the city. It can be claimed that the British threat to bomb Rome, if Athens was attacked from the air, has probably saved the majority of the Greek capital’s historic and prominent buildings from destruction. Greek Royal decrees appoint M. Tsouderos Acting-Minister for War, and M. Argyropoulos Governor-General of the Aegean Islands. They also grant an amnesty for all political offences committed in Crete, except those against the security of the State. The Greek • Cabinet held its first meeting at Crete

The Istanbul correspondent of the Associated Press of America states the capture of Chios by the Germans would complete a chain of islands to the Dodecanese. Other reports state that occupation of Lemnos and Mytilene enables the Germans to ship war materials to Greece and the Dodecanese by the Dardanelles. Two vessels have already passed to the Aegean. Some astonishment is expressed that the British did not occupy the islands to forestall the Germans. The latest German communique on the advance in Greece says; “In a bold attack by parachute troops on the morning of April 26, the isthmus of Corinth and the town Itself were captured and a number of British were taken prisoner. At the entrance of the Gulf of Corinth, the Adolf Hitler Guard

NAZI MOVES IN MIDDLE EAST

REVIEW MADE BY THE “ ECONOMIST ” “ THERE WILL BE MORE SET-BACKS ” (8.0. W.) RUGBY, April 27. An interesting article on the situation in the Middle East, published in the “Economist,” begins by writing off the Greek mainland and noting that in the occupation of Greek islands the Germans have begun the investing of the Turkish citadel. It says that the pause in North Africa is unlikely to be prolonged and passes to the western Mediterranean, where at any time the German thrust may swing. "It was known that the spring of 1941 would see a many-pointed offensive designed to do to Britain what .was done to France last year,” it says. "It was known, too, that Germany still possessed the largest and most powerful army in the world and the strongest air force operating on interior lines between the North Sea and the Mediterranean. Hitler was bound to attack and his attack was bound to be menacing. “There was never any ground for belief that the Royal Air Force could now rule the air in every region. That time is still to come, and it was with full knowledge of these facts that Mr Churchill and his advisers had to make their dispositions where the Germans moved. “His stern assessment of the odds against which the British efforts must be made this year does not lead to any doubt as to the final outcome and also that no miracles can be expected in the immediate future.

“The uncomfortable fact must be swallowed that there had been setbacks and that there will be more setbacks, not because the higher strategy of the Cabinet and the Services has on the balance been wrong, but because the forces at their disposal are still too weak.

"The reason for this goes back to the fall of France and more years still to the ineptitude of the economic preparations made for fighting. There has not been time yet since Norway and Dunkirk to catch up the enemy’s long start. The flood of American aid has still to come and it is a stark fact that it may take years to gather strength enough to stand victorious in the field. “Until then, it will be guerrilla warfare except in the defence of Britain and the Atlantic defences; and in spite of the grievous course of events, the campaign in Grece has been a guerrilla operation of no small importance.” DISORDERS IN SYRIA ARMOURED CARS ON PATROL (Received April 28, 9.50 p.m.) LONDON, April 28. The Jerusalem correspondent of the Independent French News Agency reports further disorders in Syria. At Hama, demonstrators raided wheat mills and afterwards tried to free those arrested. Police fired on the rescuers, four being killed and 15 wounded. French armoured cars are patrolling the streets of Aleppo after similar incidents. A strike of milkmen was broken at Beirut after a revision of taxes on dairy products.

NEWS FROM GREEK FRONT

“Tardy And Meagre t9J

COMPLAINT MADE BY SIR FREDERICK MAURICE

LONDON, April 27. Major-General Sir Frederick Maurice, in a letter to the “Sunday Dispatch,” complains that news from the Greek front has been tardy and meagre.

“I am sure that neither the commanders in the field nor the censor would deliberately withhold bad news, knowing that this is no way to treat the British public.” he writes, “but in view of what has happened recently I doubt whether the great importance of giving the public the facts promptly, particularly when they, are unpleasant, is fully realised at the front. “I am also worried by the fact that in all the recent fighting in Libya, Greece and Abyssinia we hear only of the deeds of the Anzacs, South’ African and Indian troops. We all know that the Anzacs and others are the stoutest of fighters, but are there no British troops fighting? The casualty lists tell that they have been doing their bit, so why not say so?” [Sir Frederick Maurice was Director of Military Operations, Imperial General Staff, from 1915 to 1918. He was Professor of Military Studies at London University in 1927, and from 1933 has been Principal of Queen Mary College (University of London).] LOSSES IX THE AIR (8.0. W.) RUGBY, April 27. During the period from dusk on April 19 to dusk on April 26, 13 German aircraft were destroyed over Britain, 11 of these after darkness. No British machines were lost over Britain during this period. Over Europe, excluding the Balkans, three German aircraft were shot down, and 17 British aircraft were lost ia offensive operations. Two enemy aeroplanes were destroyed by ships between these dates. In the Mediterranean and African area the Axis lost 50 machines in tha air and five on the ground, at a cost to the British Empire Air Forces of 18. In addition to the above figures, the Navy accounted for six Axis aircraft in this theatre of the war. Figures given for the Mediterranean u»elude only those reported up to yesterday. COAL STRIKE IX U.S. MEDIATION ATTEMPT FAILS DEFENCE INDUSTRIES HAMPERED (Received April 28, 10 p.m.) WASHINGTON. April 28. A grave situation has been created by the collapse of the Defence Mediation Board’s attempt to settle the coal strike in the United States, as many defence industries are already hampered as a result of the coal shortage. Victory Parade in Bangkok.—Tha Prime Minister (Luang Bipul Songgram) reviewed 30,000 armed forces in a three-hour victory parade which included 100 warplanes roaring overhead. Thousands of spectators crowded the streets and cheered the troops who had returned from the front.— Bangkok, April 27. '