“HAVE COURAGE!”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 April 1941, Page 5

“HAVE COURAGE!”

KING’S MESSAGE TO GREEK NATION “GOOO DAYS WILL COME AGAIN.” ASSURANCE OF FINAL VICTORY. (By Telegraph —Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 9.20 a.m.) ATHENS, April 23. King George, in his message to his people, said: “The hard destinies of war compel us to get away from Athens, together with the Crown Prince and the lawful Government of the country. According to the will of the whole nation,, we shall continue the fight imposed on us —undertaken after unprovoked aggression by two Empires.” King George added: “Our will has been manifested in many ways thus far, and means resistance to the end by the Greek troops, which, despite an unequal fight, particularly after the German, invasion, stubbornly fought beside their British allies who rushed to our aid, and who fought and still are fighting on Greek territory for the safety of our just cause.” King George announced that the Greek army at Epirus had signed an armistice, “without our knowledge. Our troops, exhausted from the hard, victorious war which had been waged for six months against a much stronger enemy, had written most glorious pages of our military history, and continue to fight against Germany with inconceivable heroism. We do not know yet exactly what conditions our army at Epirus signed. An armistice with the enemy in this way does not bind the free will of the nation. The King and Government will continue the struggle with all remaining forces with a view to securing our supreme national interests. Don’t lose your courage, Greeks, even during this painful moment of our history. God will help us to secure a final victory. Despite trials, pain and danger in the meantime, have courage. Good days will come again. Long live the nation!”