LEAVING GREECE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 May 1941, Page 6

LEAVING GREECE

ORDERLY NEW ZEALAND WITHDRAWAL “LOSSES EXTRAORDINARILY SMALL.” GRATITUDE TO THE NAVY. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright' (Received This Day, 12.40 p.m.) (N ZE F. Official Nows Service.) CAIRO, May G. It was early in the morning and a famous light cruiser lay out in the bay. An officer had a hurried look around just to make sure, and a small boat pulled out from the beach with the last of the New Zealand Division aboard—men of the Auckland Battalion, who had acted as rearguard for the withdrawal. Not one man was left on that particular beach, and everything had gone like clockwork. The senior officer of the battalion said it could not have been better managed. The day had been spent with the men dispersed under cover, well back from the shore, and when night came on a transport picked up the men and set out for the beach, where everything was carried out in darkness, with the most commendable efficiency. Those in charge knew they had so many hours to complete their task and set about getting the men aboard. Small naval boats came right in to the sand and 'were quickly loaded down to the gunwale, shoved off to the warship and were back almost immediately for another load of soldiers. This went on through the midnight hours without interference from the Luftwaffe, and as the time set for the operation to finish drew near, the number waiting to be taken oil’ had decreased to a mere handful. Finally the last boat put out into the bay. ten minutes after the specified time, and it was speedily hoisted on board. The ship started to move and the outlines of the Greek shore soon faded into the night. The last rearguard action had been won and< the Navy had demonstrated once again that skill and daring can achieve much.

It was a perfect illustration of the co-operation that worked so well on the beaches where the soldiers were evacuated. The Now Zealand Army had been deliberate in its plans. Once the motor transport had served its purpose it was run over into deep gullies and nothing of value was left behind for the Nazis. There was none of the abandon of a headlong retreat and everything went off as if the units had been on manoeuvres.

Perhaps that is the secret of the small casualties suffered in this action, which was carried out over long distances. The men were certainly attacked from the air and bombed severely at times, but the losses were extraordinarily small for the effort expended by the enemy. One of our mobile units spent Anzac Day in an olive grove near a small bridge and the enemy must have suspected their presence, for it was a target for bombers as long as daylight lasted. When night came down and orders were received to move, there was not one absentee. This is the kind of thing that gave the men courage. They knew they did not need to fear Nazi planes and there was no object in opening fire on them, because it would only have betrayed their whereabouts. It was found that the Germans did not relish fighting at night and in places where they hurled themselves against the New Zealand forces regardless of risk, our machinegunners were able to exact a terrible toll with ease. Examples of courage are without number, and above all the standard of discipline remained high, so that the most difficult of manoeuvres was carried out without a hitch. The transport maintained a very close liaison with the front-line troops and where speedy moves had to be carried out, this was of tremendous assistance. The men of the New Zealand Division feel they have learned a great deal from their experiences in Greece and it goes without saying that their bearing, always easy and confident, is today that of an army that has the measure of its foe and has no doubt of winning final victory.