The Timaru Herald SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1940 Greek Heroism Prevails

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21819, 23 November 1940, Page 6

The Timaru Herald SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1940 Greek Heroism Prevails

WIUEVER in her long history has the name of 11 Greece stood so high nor that of Italy so low,” said Lord Halifax in the House of Lords on Thursday. It is true that the Hellenes of to-day are fighting in the great tradition of their noble ancestors against the foe who, in Mr Churchill s phrase, struck a “felon’s blow.” Italy, it may be assumed, had a campaign planned for the speedy subjection of Greece in the event of Rome’s terms not being accepted in Athens, but it is probable that this campaign was not mapped out in great detail because it could not have been anticipated that the Greeks would make anything more than a formal show of resistance. So the Italians suffered their first reverse when Greece took the field in earnest. Since then Italy has suffered other blows to her pride and it is not erring on the side of incautious optimism to say that the Greeks, supported as they are by British forces, may continue to inflict serious punishment on the aggressors. The campaign at present seems to be about where it started. The Italians, having the advantage of the first initiative, were able to strike into Greek territory, but now they have been driven back to their original positions, beyond them in some parts, and now the fall of the Albanian town of Koritza, a useful strategic point, is reported. It may be held by the Greeks, but what has to be remembered is that the terran is difficult and the Greeks cannot advance too far, or at too great a rate, without imperilling their communications in mountainous country. If, as some reports suggest, the Italians are in flight, it might not be altogether to the ultimate advantage of the Greeks to pursue too readily, for they would become vulnerable if their advancing line were extended imprudently. News of a serious Italian reverse can be accepted without hesitation, but it would be a mistake to inflate a reverse, however serious, into a major victory. If the campaign is going to a dangerous extent against the Italians it is certain that the Axis defences will be strengthened sufficiently to enable further pressure to be applied to the Allies. It is obvious that every possible effort will be made to avert the loss of prestige that a defeat in Greece would bring. So far Greek resistance has been magnificent. The Greek Army has been supported with superb heroism by a small air force, ibut it is obvious that a small air 'force cannot go on fighting continuously without rest, and it is certain that Italian resources in the air would be sufficient to wear down the Greek airmen if British aid were not available. The real cause for gratification at the showing made by Greece in the past three weeks is that it has enabled British support to be marshalled and sent to this part of the Mediterranean. Further, the early successes of Greek arms have enabled the country to mobilise its own reserves. Although scarcely any information on this point is available, it is likely that British aid in the air and elsewhere has had a substantial effect on the campaign already and each day the Italians are kept deprived of the initiative means that Britain will become a still more effective ally in spite of heavy commitments elsewhere. Basically, the campaign on the Greek mainland is of minor importance. Mussolini’s cardinal blunder in following Hitler’s example of brigandage is that Britain has now been given an extremely valuable foothold in Greece which will be incalculably helpful in the Mediterranean sector of the general war against the Axis. Greek heroism is the basis upon which this advantage is founded, and even if Greece were unable to do more than she has done in the past three weeks, she would have made a valiant and remarkable contribution to the ultimate Allied victory.