80 Per Cent. of British Forces Evacuated

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

80 Per Cent. of British Forces Evacuated

BEACH EMBARKATION (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 30. At least 80 per cent, of the original British and Empire forces have been safely evacuated from Greece, it was officially announced in Cairo to-night. The men are now in an area in which they can, in the words of the official announcement, “ undertake further active employment.” A communique issued to-day by the British General Headquarters in the Middle East says: “When it became obvious that the resistance of the Greek Army to the German invasion was at an end, the Government of Greece requested that the Empire contingent which had been sent to its help should be withdrawn from Greece. “At this time, the Empire troops were in close contact with the enemy on the Thermopylae position after their withdrawal from the more forward positions. Embarked from Beaches. “The enemy, by the employment of greatly superior numbers, had obtained complete control and command of the air and, by repeated attacks, had made unusuable the one available good port— Piraeus. Consequently, re-embarka-tion has taken place from open beaches, against continuous enemy pressure on land and heavy and repeated attacks from the air. “In such circumstances, the withdrawal of a large number of troops can only be effected at the most of heavy losses in vehicles and equipment, while the rearguards which cover this withdrawal may have to sacrifice themselve s to secure the re-embarka-i tion of the others. “The re-embarkation of the personnel of the Empire forces in Greece has been taking place in most difficult conditions. The full results have not yet been given, but at least 80 per cent, of the original force has already been safely conveyed to an area where ifi can undertake further active employment. Enemy Slowed Up “This operation has only been posiible as a result of great skill and devotion by all three arms of the Services. “The rearguards who covered the withdrawal have imposed on the enemy a slow and cautious advance in spite of his great superiority in numbers. “The Navy and merchant service have shown great courage and devotion

in the face of sustained air attacks against the ports and beaches w.here the embarkation has taken place. “Although very heavily outnumbered, our aircraft played their part both in providing some measure of protecticn' to the ships during their passage, and in conveying key personnel from Greece. Troops In Good Spirits “It is noteworthy that, in epite of the heavy fighting they have been through and the trying experience of reembarkation under such conditions, the troops who have returned from Greece are entirely unperturbed by their struggle against such odds and are convinced of their superiority over the Germans, both as individuals and as units and formations. “The successful withdrawal of so large a proportion of these invaluable troops is a noteworthy achievement. “The troops have already all their fighting equipment, as well as their fighting spirit, and the heavy equipment and transport which has been lost (will soon be replaced,”