GREEK NOTE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 May 1941, Page 6

GREEK NOTE

TRANSLATION PUBLISHED IN LONDON EXHAUSTION OF NATIONAL ARMY. FURTHER SACRIFICE MADE VAIN. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) RUGBY, April 30. A translation of the document, in which the Greek Government on April 21 informed the British Government that the further sacrifice of the British expeditionary forces would be in vain, and advised its withdrawal, is now published. It states: “The Greek Government, while expressing to the British Government and to the gallant Imperial troops its gratitude for the aid which they have extended to Greece in her defence against unjust aggression, are obliged to make the following statement: After having conducted for more than six months a victorious struggle against strongly superior enemy for-

ces, the Greek Army has now reached a state of exhaustion and moreover finds itself completely deprived of certain resources indispensable for the pursuit of the war, such as munitions, motorised vehicles and aeroplanes —resources with which it was, in any case, inadequately supplied from the outbreak of hostilities. This state of things makes it impossible for the Greeks to continue the struggle with any chance of success, and deprives them of all hope of being able to lend some assistance to their valiant Allies. At the same time, in view of the importance of preserving the British contingents, in view of limited aviation at their disposal, and in view of the extent of front heroically defended by them, the Imperial forces have an absolute need for assistance from the Greek Army, without which they could not prolong their own resistance for more than a few days. In these conditions, a continuation of the struggle, while incapable of producing any useful effect, would have no other result than to bring about the collapse of the Greek Army and bloodshed useless to the Allied forces. Consequently, the Royal Government is obliged to state that the further sacrifice of the British Expeditionary Force would be in vain and that its withdrawal in time seems to be rendered necessary by the circumstances and by the interests common to the struggle.”