Incessant Bombing Failed to Break Discipline

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 103, 2 May 1941, Page 7

Incessant Bombing Failed to Break Discipline

United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. LONDON, April 30. Out of a force of 60,000 British and Anzac troops landed in Greece, at least 45,000 have so far been evacuated. This announcement was made by the Prime Minister, Mr. Churchill, in the House of Commons to-day, and he stated that it was believed that this number had reached their bases without mishap. In the actual fighting, there were about 3000 killed and wounded, principally at Mount Olympus, Grevena and Thermopylae. A message from Cairo states that our withdrawal is continuing satisfactorily and that the figure of 45,000 may be Increased. To-day’s communique from British General Headquarters at Cairo again reports only that “the withdrawal of our troops m Greece is continuing satisfactorily.” To-day’s R.A.F. Middle East communique says that constant convoy patrols have been flown by the R.A.F. over certain areas of the Mediterranean, in the course of which enemy aircraft attacks have been repeatedly repulsed. The Germans claim to have occupied the laat two harhours in Southern Greece, and that their occupation of Greece is complete. This statement, however, lacks corjfirmation. Mr. Churchill said: “As I am most anxious to give the House, the nation, and the Empire information at the earliest possible moment, and also in view of the extravagant claims made by the enemy, I think it is right now to give the figures, so far as they are known to us, of the evacuation of our forces from Greece. . “Up to the time when the evacuation was seen to be inevitable, we had landed about 60,000 men in Greece, including one New' Zealand and one Australian division. Of these, at least 45,000 have been evacuated.” (Cheers.) “Considering that our air force was, through the superiority of the enemy, forced to leave the airfields from which alone it could give effective cover to the retreat of our troops, and that only a small proportion of it could cover the points of embarkation, this must be considered remarkable. “The conduct of our troops, especially the rearguard, in fighting their way over many miles to the sea merits the highest praise. This is the first instance where air bombing, prolonged day after day, has failed to break the discipline and order of marching columns. When questioned further on equipment, Mr. Churchill said: “The heavy equipment could not, of course, be removed, but the Germans are not short of heavy equipment. ’ ’ “In the actual fighting, principally round Mount Olympus, Grevena, and Thermopylae, about' 3000 casualties, killed and wounded, are reported to have been suffered by our troops. This is s very small part of the losses inflicted on the Germans, who on several occasions, sometimes for days at a time, were brought to a standstill by troops sometimes one-fifth of their number; nor does that take into account the German losses in any assault mado on them by the Greek and Yugoslav armies.” Mr Churchill, after stating that he could possibly give the House a full account in the forthcoming debate, goncluded: “I think I have said enough to show the House that, painful as our losses are, we have much to be thankful for and the Empire forces have much to be proud of.” Sir Hugh O’Neill asked: “When the Prime Minister says that 45,000 men have been evacuated, does lie mean that they have successfully reached their base without mishap!” Mr Churchill: “I believe that is so. Indeed, I think I ars well within the figure.” In connection with Mr. Churchill’s announcement that 45,000 out of the 60,000 British and Empire troops landed in Greece have been evacuated safely and transported to their bases, that the total casualties were 3000 killed and wounded, and that the heavy equipment was not removed, it can be stated that the personal equipment of the troops and their light guns were got •way. As to the military lessons of the campaign, the daring of the Anzacs and the British troops showed that there was an answer to attaek by enemy armoured divisions and that German dive-bombers proved much less formidable than was generally expected. The aim of the German airmen was not very accurate, and it is noted with special satisfaction that the dive-bombing failen to disturb the discipline and morale of the British troops. A Berlin message says: “Our forces have occupied all the ports in Southern Peloponnesus, thus preventing the remaining British troops escaping by sea.”