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Evening Star, Issue 23908, 11 June 1941, Page 7

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The War’s Battlefronts CRETE ONLY PART OF CAMPAIGN Mr Churchill Replies To Critics (British Official Wireless.) Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright

RUGBY, June 10. ' (Received June 11, at 11.25 a.in.) Replying to the debate on the war situation, Mr Churchill said the criticisms which would be offered would not only be accepted, but welcomed by the Government. He pointed out that full explanations could not be given without revealing valuable information to the enemy. The Battle of Crete was only one part of a very important and complicated campaign, and a vast scene which should only be surveyed as a whole ought not to be exposed and debated piecemeal into a general survey of the war. There are all sorts of considerations about the gain and loss of time, and their effect on the future, as well as a picture of the distribution of resources to meet the calls made on them. Dealing with the criticism about the number of anti-aircraft guns available in Crete, Mr Churchill said the number of guns at their disposal and their disposition had been considered. A great number which might have been employed in Crete diad been mounted on merchant vessels to beat off attacks of the Fokker-Wulf and Heinkel aircraft, whose depredations v had been notably lessened thereby. Home defence also had to bo considered, as well as the length of time taken to reach the Middle East round the Cape. “ No one, I venture to submit, can be a judge of whether we should have run more risks or expose ourselves to heavier punishment at home for the sake of fortifying and multiplying Cretan airfields without having full and intimate knowledge of all our resources and making a survey of the various claims upon them.” 'When the Greek Government invited intervention steps were, however, taken to defend the anchorage at Suda Bay, and develop a nearby aerodrome. The greatest available number of anti-air-craft guns that could.be supplied was being diverted from other -j strategic points. In the result the Nazis were .found to make a major effort. ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUNS. So far as anti-aircraft guns were concerned, although the production was large and expanding every one was competed for by rival claims, which were massive claims. It had to be remembered that at the beginning of the war Britain was short of every essential supply, especially tanks, anti-aircraft guns, and anti-tank guns, and the equipment of the Army was then of the most meagre and deficient character. Although the output of antiaircraft guns was rapidly expanding, Britain was still incomparably inferior in numbers to those at the disposal of Germany for the defence of the captured aerodromes. After dealing with transport problems, Mr Churchill gave an assurance that everything had been done to build np the largest possible Air Force iu the Middle East. SERVICE CO-OPERATION. Turning to the question of co-opera-tion between the services, Mr Churchill stressed the closeness of the contact between the chiefs of the Navy, Army, and Air Force. He said no disagreement had arisen between them. Recapitulating the, events leading up to the evacuation of Greece, Mr Churchill said it was clear that the next assault would be an air-borne invasion of Crete. The decision to fight there was arrived at with the knowledge that air support would be at a minimum. This fact was the foundation of a difficult and hard choice, but what would have been said if Crete had been given up without a fight, and what would have happened if the enemy had been allowed to advance unopposed and over-run every place which could be held for certain? “ One would have to ask oneself can one ever be sure? ” Already the Germans had gained very easy victories. Many countries were beaten without offering much resistance. It was not only the time gained by strong opposition, but an important principle of stubborn resistance to the will of the enemy. “ Let us look at the. anatomy of the Battle of Crete, undertaken in these bleak _ circumstances., We hoped that 25,000 to 30,000 good troops, with artillery, a proportion of tanks, and aided by Greek forces would be able to destroy' the parachute troops and glider landings by the enemy to prevent him using airfields or harbours. The army was to destroy the airborne attacks while the navy was to destroy seaborne attacks, but'the action of the navy in defending the northern sea guard without adequate air defences was bound to be very costly. This battle can only be judged in relation to the campaign as a whole.” FOUL PROPAGANDA. Dealing with the details of the troops engaged in Crete, Air Churchill regretted that the brunt of the Middle East fighting had fallen so heavily on the Australian and New Zealand troops. German propaganda had tried to make much of this. “ I am glad to see that Mr Menzies on Sunday night dealt with this foul propaganda as it deserves. There have been, in fact, during 1941 almost as many British as New Zealand troops engaged in all the operations in the Western Desert, Greece, and Crete, and our losses during this year compared with the numbers engaged, are slightly heavier for British than for the dominion troops.

“ In Crete the numbers were almost exactly equal, and the British losses were slightly heavier. Out of 90,000 lives lost in the war so far, which number excludes civilian casualties,, at home and abroad at least 85,000 com® from Britain. Therefore I repudiate the German taunt both on behalf of the Mother Country and New Zealand. CRETE CASUALTIES. “ The British Imperial casualties in Crete in killed, womided, and missing numbered 15,000, and 17,000 were gob off. About 5.000 Germans wore drowned and at least 12,000 killed and wounded in Crete. In addition, the Nazis lost 180 fighters and bombers, aud at least 250 troop carriers. “ I am sure it will be found that this sombre and ferocious battle, which was lost, hut by no great margin, was a battle worth fighting, and it will play an extremely important part iu_ the whole defence of- the Nile Valley throughout the present year.” Air Churchill said the decision to withdraw the aircraft was made by the Commander-in-Chief in the Middle East ou the recommendation of Geueral Freyberg. SYRIA. Turning to the question of Syria, Air Churchill said up to the present-4110 advance in Syria was progressing with very little opposition and favourably. He added that Britain had no territorial designs there or elsewhere on French territory. When intervention was decided- on the position was very nearly gone, as the German poison was gradually spreading through the country. , The advance seemed to be encountering little opposition. WAR PRODUCTION. V Air Churchill gave good news of war production, stating that in gims and heavy tanks the monthly production for the first quarter of 1941 was 50 per cent, greater than the last quarter of 1940. ATLANTIC BATTLE, Of the Battle of the Atlantic, Air Churchill said Alay was the best mouth for some time, and during that month 257,000 tons, of enemy shipping had been sunk or scuttled. MIDDLE EAST SITUATION. Summing up the situation, he said Iraq had been regained and Syria entered. “Our front at Mersa Matruh is unbroken, and the defensive line there is stronger than ever. Our forces have occupied Abyssinia and can now be set free. With the immense amount of transport, some already on the way to the delta of the Nile, it would be unfair, wrong, and silly, especially in the . middle of an advance which so far had been crowned with remarkable success, to select the loss of the Crete salient as an excuse and pretext for branding as a failure the great campaign in the defence of the Middle East, which so far has prospered beyond all expectation, and is now entering upon an even more intense and critical phase.” EMPIRE WAR CABINET SUGGESTION IN HOUSE OF DOMINIONS (Rec. 12.45 p.m.) LONDON, June 10. “ Such a course would be a complete departure in principle from the traditions followed by many generations,” said Mr Churchill in the House of Commons when asked whether, in order to facilitate closer and more direct cooperation in the Empire war effort, he would amend the Statute of Westminster entitling dominion Premiers to attend sittings of the j Commons during their visits for consultation with the War Cabinet. Mr E. L. Granville: “ Has not the Premier noticed the recent precedent in Ottawa, when Mr Menzies addressed the Canadian, House of Commons and other members declared that the British people would shortly insist on having an Empire War Cabinet? The dominions themselves might also have something to say on the subject.” KING’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION IN CANADA (British Official Wireless.). (Rec. 9.5 a.m.) RUGBY, June 10. In a message of congratulation to the King on his birthday, which Canada celebrated yesterday, Air Alackenzie King said; “ Words could not express the admiration felt for the example of high, courage and . noble devotion to duty given by your Alajesty.” . The actual date of the King’s Birthday is December 14, but the anniversary will be celebrated officially in Britain on Thursday.