MENACED ISLANDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 December 1940, Page 5

MENACED ISLANDS

WHY COUNT DE VECCHI RESIGNED POSITION IN DODECANESE HOPELESS: SURRENDER ADVISED.' (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, December 8. Two special correspondents, Mr Ward Price, of the “Daily Mail,” and the Cairo correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph,” state that Count de Vecchi resigned his office in the Dodecanese Islands after advising Mussolini of his inability to hold the Dodecanese against the British. I Mr Ward Price simultaneously suggests that Count de Vecchi’s admission of their weakness makes the British naval occupation of the islands imperative. The Cairo correspondent of the “Telegraph” says that when Italy invaded Greece Count de Vecchi made a swift tour of the Dodecanese Islands and drew up a careful inventory of the lamentably inadequate material resources, including dry oil tanks and food. Meanwhile, the natives were growing increasingly hostile. After the British occupation of Crete Count de Vecchi informed Rome that the Dodecanese were unable to take offensive action or stand a prolonged siege, and therefore he advised the surrender of the islands so that Italy could cut her losses.