WITHDRAWN SAFELY FROM GREECE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 May 1941, Page 5

WITHDRAWN SAFELY FROM GREECE

Announcement by Mr Churchill in House of Commons THREE THOUSAND CASUALTIES IN ACTUAL FIGHTING FIGURE OF TROOPS EVACUATED MAY BE INCREASED LONDON, April 30. In the House of Commons, the British Prime Minister, Mr Winston Churchill, stated that of t 11 ® 60 ’? 00 . nerial troous landed in Greece, at least 40,000 have been evacuated and are believed to have reached their base without mishap. In the actual fighting-, about 3,000 casualties killed and wounded, are reported to have been suffered by out troops. Mr Churchill said the figure of 45,000 troops given as succes, - fully evacuated might be increased. The troops sent to Greec included one New Zealand and one Australian division. ( In making this announcement, Mr Churchill said. lam most anxious to give the House, nation and Empire information at the earliest possible moment and also in view of the extravagant claims made by the enemy, I think it right, to give the figures as far as they are known.” „ Mr Churchill, who was frequently cheered, went on to refer to the difficulties which faced the British air force and to the strength of the German mechanised and land forces. For two days, he said, they were brought to a standstill by British forces only one-fifth of the enemy’s strength. \ FULL AGREEMENT WITH GREECE Mr Eden, Foreign Secretary, disclosed the circumstances which led to the withdrawal of the British troops. On April 21, the Greek Prime Minister handed to the British Minister in Athens a Note expressing the Government’s gratitude for the aid Britain had given and stating that the Greek army, after a victorious struggle for more than six months, had reached a state of exhaustion and could no longer lend assistance to its ally. The Note said the British forces should be withdrawn m the common interests of those opposing the enemy. Mr Churchill said it could be seen that the withdrawal was made in full agreement and in conformity with the wishes of the Greek Government. A Cairo communique states that the withdrawal from, Greece continues satisfactorily. A constant patrol had been established over certain areas of the Mediterranean and enemy air attacks have been repeatedly repulsed. The Germans claim to have completed the occupation of Greece, but this report is not confirmed. It is officially announced that the whole of Greece, with the exception of Crete, is now regarded as enemy occupied territory.