Manawatu Evening Standard. THURSDAY, MAY 1, 1941. EVACUATION OF GREECE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 128, 1 May 1941, Page 6

Manawatu Evening Standard. THURSDAY, MAY 1, 1941. EVACUATION OF GREECE.

Mr Churchill’s statement that up tiR yesterday no fewer than 45,000 of the 00,000 troops sent to Greece had been evacuated substantiates tbe view taken in British semi-official quarters that the operation has been much more successful than was believed possible, and the losses will be lighter than anticipated. Evacuation has been a very difficult military task, and particularly in Australia and New Zealand there have been many anxious hearts awaiting 1 news of its completion. According to the New York Times’s military correspondent, the last of the Anzaos left Greece on Tuesday. Mr Churchill places the casualties at 0000 killed and wounded so that there arc, relatively speaking, 12,000 yet to be evacuated, but many of these British troops would be leaving the mainland of Greece during yesterday and until further escape is prevented by the Germans. This is the third important withdrawal of British troops from a theatre of war. The first at Norway, affecting the operations around Trondheim when a brilliant retirement was carried out under tbe noses of the Nazis, was extremely difficult.; the second was the wonderful epic of Dunkirk, but the substantia] air support given there was not available in Greece, and the troops have had to withstand the onslaughts of German bombers as they steadily retired to chosen places from whence to embark. The story of these last days in Greece will be told at the appropriate time when the operations of the past several weeks and the retirement itself will rank among the greatest military deeds that have thrilled the Empire. Mr Eden’s brief statement, made in the House of Commons yesterday, shows that the withdrawal, “while there is time,” was ordered <at the express wish of the Greek Government. For six months its troops had waged war against the Italians, winning victory after victory, but had reached a point of exhaustion which the German attack had accentuated. But for this brutal act of aggression on Hitler’s part it is undeniable that the Greeks, with the assistance Britain and the United States were sending them, would have routed the Italians from Albania. Hitler had to save his weak partner in international crime, and the Greek Government was forced to the reluctant conclusion that in the circumstances to continue the struggle meant useless shedding of blood of the “brave British and Allied force.” For 1 that decision Greece will always be honoured. Now the swastika flies over Athens to the humiliation of its proud citizens, but they know that their cause will not be deserted, that in the fulness of time Hitler and Mussolini will be vanquished, and a complete restoration effected of their sovereign rights, when the small States of Europe will be able to rejoice once again in their freedom.

THE WOOL INDUSTRY. The substantial demand for crossbred wool throughout the selling season.is reflected in the proceeds ol' the Wellington appraisements. The total is £2,092,151 as against; £1,950.849 in the 1949-40 period, and £1,423,799 in the year before war was declared. Altogether there were five appraisements at which 108,170 bales were' dealt with, the average value of each being £l9 6s lOd compared with £lB 6s lid in tlie previous season. These figures may be accepted as a guide for the appraisements which have been held at the other selling centres and reflect the need for the wool sheepfarmers have to sell. That it will continue may also be accepted. Though at one stage last year there was evidence that large quantities of Australian and New Zealand wool were being put into store in Britain, the position subsequently showed a substantial improvement. Some months ago an agreement was signed for storing 250,000,0001 b of Australian wool in the United States as a strategic, reserve, thereby reducing the growing surplus of Merino wool in Britain and safeguarding consumption in the American market. The demand for crossbreds, the wool which this country mainly produces, has been maintained on a very high level because of the war’s demands, in spite of the fact that* France has dropped out of the conflict and there is no market in Europe. The Empire’s armies must _be clothed and it is here that New Zealand’s wool is largely wanted. So intense is the need for the crossbred class that not long ago London interests were urging Australian growers to follow an example in the last war and increase their production in this connection. New Zealand must also do everything possible to increase her crossbred clip, but the meat restrictions lately imposed may make it rather difficult for farmers to follow this admirable course.