NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 7, 3 October 1944, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS

To the Canadians have fallen the honour of capturing Calais, aud the German big-gun batteries at Gris-Nez, so relieving tbe south-eastern districts of England, known -as “Hell-fire Corner,” from the long strain and perils of the enemy’s cross-Channel bombardment. The choice of the Canadians for these tasks was appropriate. Their first visit to the enemyheld coast in the Pas-de-Calais area was earlier in the war, when they participated, and sustained heavy losses, in the famous Dieppe Raid. They have now taken their revenge, and thoroughly cleaned up these nests of enemy resistance which were by-passed in the Allied general advance fiom the Seine. Their success enhances the Canadians’ very fine general war effort. Canada’s contribution to the cause has been a splendid one. Through her co-operation tlie Empire training scheme for British and Dominion airmen was made possible. She has made generous donations to Britain’s war exchequer, built a large fleet of merchant and fighting ships, and trained thousands of personnel to man them. It is a great record for the Empires oldest Dominion, and when the full story can be told, it will make impressive reading.

Public opinion would strongly support any action taken by the Government to send a shipment of foodstuffs to Greece as soon as circumstances will permit. Despite all that has happened in the intervening years the people of New Zealand have a special regard for the Greeks. They did their heroic best to assist our men when the enemy poured down from the Balkans in overwhelming strength, gave from their very scanty stores of food, assisted many men to got dway safely, and made it possible for others to escape to the north, where the partisans were carrying on the struggle. From the stirring (lays of battle on the slopes of Mount Olympus until the last small boatload of our men had left Crete these people proved tlie staunchness of their adherence to the Allied cause and their friendship for New Zealanders. It has not been possible for tlie Dominion to send foodstuffs to Greece, but a measure of assistance has come from another British Dominion. In 1942 Canada undertook to ship 15.000 tons of wheat monthly to Greece. Later this was increased substantially, and other foodstuffs and medicines have also been sent by Catuidn in. Swedish vessels under the International Red Cross. The Argentine and United Stales Governments have also sent shipments in the same way. But these supplies fall far short of the actual needs, and in any case New Zealanders would sincerely wish to make this gesture of friendship and remembrance to a very gallant little nation.