GREEK DECISION

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

GREEK DECISION

NOTICE TO BRITAIN ADVICE TO WITHDRAW THANKS FOR ASSISTANCE (OfTlctal Wireless) (Received May 1, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, April 30 A translation of the document in which the Greek Government on April 21 informed the British Gov- i ernmept that further sacrifice of the British Expeditionary Forces would j be in vain and advised its with- j drawal has now been published. It i states:— “The dreek Government, while 1 expressing to the British Govern- 1 ment and to the gallant Imperial troops its gratitude for the aid which they extended to Greece in , her defence against unjust aggres- j sion, are obliged to make the following statement: After having conducted for more than six j months a victorious struggle against strongly superior enemy forces the Greek Army has now, reached a state of exhaustion, and, ' moreover, finds itself completely j deprived of certain resources indis- i pensable for the pursuit of war, such as munitions, motorised • vehicles and aeroplanes—resources •with which it was in any case in- . adequately supplied from the out- i break of hostilities. “This state of things makes it impossible for the Greeks to con- ! tinue the struggle with any chance of success, and deprives them of all hope of being able to lend some assistance to their valiant j allies. m , i “At the same time, in view of the importance of preserving the British contingents, in view of the limited aviation at their disposal, >. and in view of the extent of the ; front heroically defended by them, the Imperial forces have absolute need for the assistance of the Greek Army, without which they could not prolong their own resistance for more than a few days. “In these conditions a continua- j tion of the struggle, while incap- j able of producing any useful effect, j would have no other result than j to bring collapse of the Greek Army and bloodshed useless to the A.llied forces. “Consequently the Royal G<p v " ernment is obliged to state that further sacrifice by the British Expeditionary Force would be in vam and that its withdrawal in time seems to be rendered necessary by the circumstances and by the interests common to the struggle. Greeks Approve Withdrawal After reading the Greek Government’s document Mr Anthony Eden, the Foreign Secretary, added: From this document the House will see that the decision to withdraw tne British forces from Greece was taken in full agreement with and in conformity with the wishes of the Greek Government.” DARING jOF_ ANZACS light guns got away HEAVY EQUIPMENT LOST (Official Wireless) (Received May 1, 11.15 a.m.) RUGBY, April 30 In connection with Mr Churchills announcement that 45,000 out of the 60 000 British Empire troops who landed in Greece have been evacuated safely and transported to their bases, that the total casualties were 3000 killed or wounded, and that heavy equipment had not been removed, it can be stated that the personal equipment of the troops and light guns were got away. As to the military lessons of the campaign, the daring of the Anzacs and the British troops showed tha. there was an answer to an attack bv enemy armoured divisions, ana the 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 failed to disturb the discipline and morale of the Britsh troops. GREEK QUISLINGS

| NEW GOVERNMENT FORMED I APPEAL BY GENERAL (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tri. copyrlsrM) | BUDAPEST, April 30 I The Greek radio stated that the j j Greek General Kollakoglu had form- j *ed a Government in Athens, and j I later he issued a proclamation in j which he charged the Royal Family I with cowardly flight, j He denied King George's right to | j represent the nation, and appealed to i Greek soldiers to cea;e opposing the j German:. ' I The Germans have set up a Greek ; “freedom radio station,” by means of j which they are trying to persuade i the Greeks to collaborate with the invaders. PLIGHT OF REFUGEES BRITISH AND AMERICAN

i 1 lifted Pros? Assn.—Kl<»r. Tel. Copvrfa-Gt) LONDON, April 29 Europe is fast becoming sealed for j j refugees wishing to go to America ; I and Britishers trying to return home j are little better off, says the Daily j Mail’s Lisbon correspondent. Between 300 and 400 Britishers in ! Lisbon are awaiting repatriation, ! apart from the resident population, t and 1500 more in unoccupied France, i Most of the Britishers arc drawing a | Consular allowance of £lO a month, I which will be repayable. i Seven thousand refugees booked j by sea by American Export Line ships * i will take a year to clear. No more 1 bookings will be accepted, except for , Americans, who have priority on j American-Export liners. 1