EVACUATION OF GREECE

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21409, 1 May 1941, Page 7

EVACUATION OF GREECE

CASUALTIES ESTIMATED AT 3000 * STATEMENT BY MR WINSTON CHURCHILL GREAT LOSSES INFLICTED ON THE GERMANS (United Press Assn —Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, April 30 The announcement that three-quarters of the British and Anzac troops which had been sent to Greece had been successfully evacuated was made today by Mr Winston Churchill, who also revealed that during the fighting the casualties suffered by the Imperial Forces were remarkably small. Giving the first official figures yet released of the size of the force sent to Greece Mr Churchill said that 60,000 men, including a New Zealand and an Australian Division, had been landed in Greece up to the time when it was found to be impracticable to land any more. So far 45,000 of these troops had been evacuated and he believed that they had reached their destination. The Prime Minister also stated that during the actual lighting the total casualties, killed and wounded, of the British Forces was approximately 3000, this figure being surprisingly small when the huge losses on the Germans is taken into consideration. “ As I am most anxious to give the House, the nation and the Empire, all information at the earliest possible moment, and also in view of the extravagant claims made by the enemy, I think it is only right for me to now give the figures, so far as they are known to us, of the evacuation of our forces from Greece,” commenced Mr Churchill in his statement in the House of Commons, 'ip to the time when evacuation w T as 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 rear-guard fighting their way over many miles to the sea, merits the highest praise. This is the first instance where prolonged air bombing, day after day, failed to break the discipline and order of marching columns. “'ln the actual fighting, principally round Mount Olympus, Grevene and Thermopylae, about 3000 casualties, killed and wounded, are reported to have been suffered by our troops,” added Mr Churchill. “This is a very small part of the losses inflicted on the Germans who, on several occasions and 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 made on them by the Greek and Yugoslav armies. Mr Churchill, after stating that he could possibly give the House a fuller account in the forthcoming debate, concluded: “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 Premier says that 45,000 men have been evacuated, does he mean that they have successfully reached their base without mishap.” Mr Churchill: “I believe that is so. Indeed, I think I am well within the figure.” Questioned further regarding equipment, Mr Churchill said: “Heavy equipment could not, of course, be removed, but the Germans are not short of heavy equipment.”

THOUSANDS WOUNDED

GERMANS FROM GREECE SOFIA A HOSPITAL, TOWN (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received May 1,2 p.m.) LONDON, April 30 Information reaching London gives a harrowing picture of Sofia, which has been converted to a hospital town, holding tens of thousands of wounded Germans from the Greek front. The German news agency says that German troops are pursuing the British and have reached the southern harbours in the Peloponnesus region. Small parties of British troops from Greece have landed in Palestine in fishing boats. It is claimed that the prisoners captured in the Peloponnesus action include 5000 British, also four Serbian generals and 300 officers.

BRITISH EXPENDITURE

BIG SUM IN FRANCE COST OF EVACUATIONS (United Press Assn.—Eire. tci. copyrlgM) LONDON, April 29 Among figures revealed by the auditor's report on the Army accounts is the fact that expenditure of some £2,000,000 was incurred while the British Expeditionary Force was in France and Belgium. This cannot be exactly given because relative books were lost or destroyed during the retreat to Dunkirk. Another item is over £40,000 representing cash lost or unaccounted for during the evacuations from France Tfnd Norway.

BRITISH AND ANZACS

EVACUATION PROCEEDING CLAIMS BY GERMANY (United rress Asvn Slec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, April 30 British and Anzac troops continue their withdrawal from Greece, stated last night’s Cairo communique. British and Greek troops are still resisting the Germans in the Peloponnesus Peninsula. Agency reports state that the evacuation is almost complete. Semi-official reports in London say that the evacuation has been much more successful than was believed possible, and the losses will be much lighter than was expected. A Berlin report states that German troops are approaching the last harbours in the extreme southern and south-western areas of Greece. It is claimed that these harbours are the only ones available to the fleeing British and Greek troops. The Ankara correspondent of the Times says German armoured divisions have returned to Bulgaria and Rumania from Greece for refitting. One which arrived at Giurgiu had lost 65 per cent of its effectives. According to the military correspondent of the New York Times, the last valiant Anzacs were evacuated from Greece cn Tuesday. The British and Greek forces, he adds, have fortified Crete as a base for offensive operations.

DEFENCE OF EIRE

ARMY VOTE OF £8,383,556 United pres? Assn.--Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received May 1, 11.10 a.m.) DUBLIN, April 30 The Eireann Dail agreed without | discussion to an army vote oj 1 £8,383,556 for 1941-42.