BRITISH IN GREECE

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 October 1944, Page 6

BRITISH IN GREECE

GERMAN FORCES’ PLIGHT

(Recd. 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 27. It is officially stated at Allied Headquarters, Mediterranean, that the Germans who left Athens a fortnight ago are desperately attempting to join up with forces in the Salonika, area. If they accomplish this without considerable loss there will be a force of several thousand in northern Greece, but the position of both forces becomes more precarious daily, because Allied bombers and Partisans are cutting the escape routes. Considerable German forces will be> cut off in the north. The Germans have almost no prospect of saving the forces in Crete, estimated at 14,000 and at Rhodes estimated at four thousand, and forces estimated at five thousand in other Aegean islands. German aircraft based on Salonika are trying to rescue the trapped garrisons in the Dodecanese, but Allied planes hamper the efforts. NEED FOR MORE HELP (Rec. 11.45 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 27. The Allies in Greece face problems which are even more urgent than first appeared, says “The Times’s” Athens correspondent Greece’s financial situation is very parlous. Hundreds of thousands are still on the borderline of starvation, and unemployment is rife because industry, commerce and agriculture cannot ” be resumed without far greater outside help than is yet forthcoming. /X. severe Winter is approaching, and there is no fuel, no clothing, and precious little food. Conditions in the fashionable centre of Athens do not appear bad, but there are still thousands roaming the streets with nothing to do, and there are obvious signs of distress. Conditions in the suburbs and workingclass districts are horrifying. -With such shocking poverty and malnutrition, it is amazing how the people manage to keep alive. Thousands must die if something is not done for them soon. Conditions in country districts and islands vary greatly, but as Greece is almost without transport distribution of food is impossible. Inflation is spreading alarmingly, but could be slowed down with the importation of food. However, only 400 ions at present are coming in daily, which is grossly insufficient.