DODECANESE ISLANDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 February 1941, Page 6

DODECANESE ISLANDS

SURRENDER TO BRITAIN ADVISED. STORY BEHIND RESIGNATION. Genera! de Vecchi. the Italian commander of 'die Dodecanese Islands, resigned after advising Mussolini to surrender the Dodecanese to Britain, says the correspondent in Cairo of the "London Daily Mail." Neutral diplomatic sources in Cairo confirm tills nows, which was first communicated by refugees from the Dodecanese, who arrived in Crete in fishing boats, he says. When Italy invaded Greece, General de Vecchi made a swift tour of - the islands and drew up a careful inventory of his resources. He found the stocks of petrol and od in the storage tanks dangerously low- and discovered that the food wrung from reluctant peasants was no* sufficient u.j give normal meals even to the Italian: troops, and that, reserve stores barely existed. Raids by the RA F. and j bombardments from the sen were even ; then depleting already scanty stocks i of war equipment, and the inhabitants were growing increasingly hostile to: the Ito hans. Then when British troops occupied: Crete General de Vecchi saw that he ■ had i > hope of eettasg reinforcements, tin an.'. ■■■•. ortli-while -vale. and at this mow lie inf. cmed R me th.A the' |)< .>Timeso fo. (■■'-: were not strong 'III Ugh ■■ '..no the 'To and could tint stand a iffi-tip d siege. He idvovd M;; oiini :•> eu* his Iw-es ;::d iun’iiidt: m nmv Alter the raid > u rartm’o he federated hts advice Throw..?. •< ■ eastern MediUn'r.m- , <■. • i i ■ < h n« ~ . iw 1.1 f.1.U'i...: Badoi;!:.. leiivl.ll :■ Vvcvht U. ;l. iwthes i* h 111 •T’ ■’ I;i s dm t ?i I, ii sm 11 Gi«t z m m emuirm r. . f 1. ’. ■ c'.s 'he r.t'l.e: I.! ' ln.lt ' .fiw’i: I: I .', ms g.w lone .Vid: Italy '.Vi . •. corny...;:': 1: o Li’ th '> w. Ab.'. m wimdwt: ci' <■■ twt : fr- ■" ’ b-.-t ■:. ' 1 - a:< :< : re : ■ :w ■ ' w ■. ‘e. >. ’’ U ' U !’ r ’ Ter. ,• 1 . ■■ e . e ,