OBJECTORS TO SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 103, 3 May 1941, Page 10

OBJECTORS TO SERVICE

A statement that he had been informed'that alterations, to the National Service Regulations were being contemplated giving the right to conscientious objectors to have their appeals reconsidered was made by the Hon. W.1 Perry, M.L.C., Dominion president of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, at a recent meeting of the Dominion executive committee. It was decided to object to the AttorneyGeneral against any modification of these regulations in the direction indicated. ■ • ;

Tirnavos. On the same; day a small New Zealand force which held the eastern entrance to Peneios Gorge, south of Mount Olympus, was heavily engaged by a greatly superior enemy force and driven back. On the next day two battalions of an Australian brigade went to its support. This small Anzac .force fought two German divisions in the Peneios Gorge. Its losses were heavy, but the withdrawal was secured on the right flank. , . ■ , During the following days the Imperial forces y/ithdrew to the Thermopylae position under very heavy enemy bombing, and by April 20 were in hew positions. The New Zealand division held the right to the sea, while the Australian division, held' the pass on the left. Artillery both of the British Army and the Anzac forces played an important part in the campaign. Undoubtedly, it inflicted" very heavy casualties; and the Germans themselves testified to the accuracy of the shooting. By this time it was obvious that the Greek army could fight no longer. The Greek Government/ recognising this, requested on April. 21 that:the British . and Empire contingent which, had been sent to its help should be withdrawn from Greece. The German forces which had been held up for some time by the gallant rearguard action at Peneios Gorge had passed through Larissa and Lamia, and Were in contact with the forces on the Thermopylae position. Meanwhile, other German forces, freed from any threat to their rear by the capitulation of the Greek, Epirus army, were rapidly coming south from Yannina, and constituted a threat to the rear of the Thermopylae position. ' ..'".■■■;■•;■■■■'■;

On April 22 a New Zealand brigade had accordingly been withdrawn to a position on a pass south of Erythrai to cover the withdrawal of the remainder of the Imperial forces to the embarkation areas, and on April 25 the last of the forces on the Thermopylae position withdrew behind Erythrai and began their embarkation from various beaches jin Attica, Argolis, and Peloponnesus, the' success of which,, in relation to the difficulties of the situation, has already been disclosed. :■■-.■