BASES AT CRETE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24449, 7 November 1940, Page 9

BASES AT CRETE

NAVY AND AIR FORCE ACTIVITIES EXTENDED BRITISH AID FOR GREECE (British Official Wireless) (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) RUGBY, Nov. 5. The Prime Minister was followed with the closest attention in the House of Commons when dealing with the Mediterranean and aid for Greece. He said : “We have already established a naval and air base at Crete, which will enable us sensibly to extend the activities and radius of the Navy and Air Force. We have begun bombing attacks on military objectives in the cities and bases m South Italy that will continue on an ever-growing scale. I would also say forces are in movement with the desire to help Greece to the utmost of our capacity, having regard to our other obligations. I hope I shall not be asked to give any other account of such measures as we are able to take. If I were to set them too high I should raise false hopes; if I se't them too low I might cause undue despondency: if I said only' what they were that would be exactly what the enemy would like to know. We shall do what we can—that is all I can say.” As to the circumstance of the Italian movement against Greece, Mr Churchill emphasised the care with which the British Government refrained from any action likely to impose upon the Greeks the enmity of the criminal dictators, and that for their part the Greeks maintained

so strict a neutrality that the British Government was unacquainted with their intentions and dispositions. “The Greek king, his Government and his people have resolved to fight for their life and honour. France and Britain guaranteed to go to the aid of Greece if she were the victim of unprovoked aggression. It was a joint agreement, but, unhappily, the Vichy Government is engaged at this moment in loyal collaboration with Hitler and his scheme of establishing a so-called ‘ new order ’ in Europe. At any rate, the Vichy Government is no longer in a position to play an effective part in the task Britain and France had accepted.” Strength of British Army Offering a word or two about the British Army, the Prime Minister said: “We are engaged in forming and training a very strong army, and the like is being done in Canada. Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. “Although the sea and air will be the main elements of the war efforts of the British Empire we must have a strong army, well equipped, well armed, well trained, and well organised, capable of interfering as the war proceeds in the liberation of one or other of the many countries yearning to free themselves from the odious Nazi yoke. Without such an army forged, tempered and sharpened with a power which gives it a wide choice of action the war might be prolonged,” said Mr Churchill. “ It might even drift towards a disastrous stalemate.” This winter, he continued, the army had got to train itself and perfect its fighting men in all the arts and manoeuvres of war that Britain might be in a position to regain the initiative. , He made it clear, moreover, that during all the menace of invasion, when troops were needed so badly, they had never failed to reinforce the British armies in Egypt almost to the limits of shipping capacity, and not only with men, but with weapons and supplies. Scores of thousands of troops had left Britain month by month, or had been drawn from other parts of the Empire, for the Middle East. Effect of France’s Defection Recalling what the loss of France had meant in this area, Mr Churchill said: “I am thankful to be able to reassure the House that the balance of forces on the frontiers of Egypt and the Sudan are far less unfavourable than at the time of the French collapse. “ There has not yet been a serious collision with the Italian forces, but there is every reason to be content with tlie results of skirmishes and forays on the ground and in the air. The Italian published casualties for the fighting in Libya amounted to 800 killed, 1700 wounded and 860 missing. The British casualties at the same time were 66 killed, 68 wounded and 36 missing.” The fleet in the Eastern Mediterranean had also been continually strengthened, and he stressed its readiness and desire at any time to engage the Italian Navy in general action.

“ The power of the British Fleet in the Eastern Mediterranean goes a long way to restore the situation created by the collapse of France, and is a great guarantee to our friends and Allies in Turkey of the unweakening power of Great Britain on the seas,” he added.