AXIS PARTNERS’ DEAL

Evening Star, Issue 23909, 12 June 1941, Page 7

AXIS PARTNERS’ DEAL

ITALY'S SHARE OF SPOILS THE UNDERLYING MOTIVES (BiiiisU Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 10. The most revealing portion of Mussolini’s speech on the anniversary of the Italian entry into the war is the announcement that, in agreement with Germany, the whole of Greece, including Athens, will be occupied by Italy. “ Greece is thus re-entering the Italian sphere of influence in the Mediterranean,” he said. ... It is obvious to informed opinion m Loudon that the underlying motives of this deal between the Axis partners, whose recent long talk at the Brenner Pass foreshadowed some bargain of this nature, are threefold— Hitler must give something to Mussolini in return for his unredeemed promises of annexations from France, which the Vichy negotiations now make impracticable; second, Mussolini’s aspirations in the Balkans are satisfied; third, Hitler hands ovei the task of policing Greece to his partner, and thereby liberates German troops for duty in another sphere of war. INVASION BY AIR LESSONS FROM CRETE (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 10. Dealing with the production of antiaircraft guns in the House of Commons, Mr Churchill said the Germans four years ago had 1,500 mobile anti-air-craft units, lu addition to static antiaircraft artillery. Since then they had been manufacturing at a great rate, and had conquered more than they would want from the countries they had overthrown. Mr Churchill said that the Germans in Crete did not wear New Zealand uniforms. The mistake arose because they drove New Zealand and English wounded ahead of them. The Royal Marine rearguard in Crete suffered most, and 1,400 of the 2,000 engaged were casualties or were taken prisoner. Naval fatalities in Crete exceeded 500. Comparing Crete with what was possible in Britain, Mr ChurchiH sM : “ We rely on strong air superiority and on a much. greater actual relative air power than had proved sufficient last autumn. Secondly, the scale of the German effort would have to be manyfold the effort in Crete, and that might be berond Germany’s resources. Everything-' will be done, however, o to meet an airborne and seaborne attack on a vast scale, which would be maintained with total disregard to losses. An attack by parachutes and gliders may ba a link in the attack _by firebombs, which, if not extinguished quickly, would cause an enormous conflagration. We are improving the defence of our airfields, and the mobility of the forces generally, and nothing will be stinted and not a moment will be lost. We are now providing the army with considerable numbers of planes suited entirely to work in connection with the ground forces, and .developing all that wireless connection between the air and military forces which the Germans have carried to such perfection.” OFFICERS REPORTING TO BRITAIN NEW ZEALAND BRIGADIER INCLUDED . LONDON, June 11. In his sbeech, Mr Churchill said* “ Every effort will be made to profit from the lessons of Crete in the defence of this island. Officers who were in the thickest of the fighting in responsible positions, including a New Zealand brigadier, are already approaching this country. Our staff in the Middle East is also reporting at length, and all this material will be examined by the General Staff here. It will also be at the disposal of General Sir Alan Brooke, who commands several million armed troops, including the Home Guard.” ADRIFT IN BOAT CREW OF BURNING STEAMER LONDON, June 11. The crew of an unnamed burning, ship were adrift in a jolly-boat for 41 days before being picked up. They subsisted on biscuits, but had no water until the eleventh day, when it rained heavily. The biscuits were finished on the thirty-first day. • . Seaman Evan Griffiths has been awarded the British Empire Medal tot reboarding the ship, lowering the - * boat, using floor, boards for paddles, and rescuing his comrades from th® water. CRASH IN IRELAND FATE OF GERMAN PLANE DUBLIN, June 10. A German plane crashed in flame* near Carnsore Point this morning and all five occupants were killed. A British fighter made a forced landing at Kilmacthomas_ one and a-half hours later, and the pilot was interned.