80 Per Cent. Out

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21409, 1 May 1941, Page 8

80 Per Cent. Out

TROOPS FROM GREECE OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE DIFFICULT OPERATION (Official wireless) | (Received May 1, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY. April 30 | “When it became obvious that the resistance of the Greek Army to the j German invasion was at an end the i Government of Greece requested ; that the Empire contingent which j had been sent to its help should be j withdrawn from Greece,*’ says a i communique from the Middle East. ; “ At this time the Empire troops were I in close contact with the enemy on : the Thermopylae position, after | withdrawal from more forward posij tions. j “The enemy, by the employment ! of greatly superior numbers, had obj tained complete control and com- | mand of the air and by repeated at- | tacks had made unusable the one | available good port—Piraeus. Con- ; sequently the re-embarkation had to take place from open beaches against ' continuous enemy pressure on the J land and heavy and repeated attacks i from the air. Loss of Equipment j “Under such circumstances the ' withdrawal of a large number of j troops can only be effected at the | cost of heavy losses in vehicles and , equipment, while the rearguards, i which cover this withdrawal, may i have to sacrifice themselves to secure j the re-embarkment of the others. ! “The re-embarkation of the personnel of the Empire forces from Greece has been taking place under 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 they can undertake further active employment.”