LOSSES IN GREECE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 May 1941, Page 4

LOSSES IN GREECE

SOME 2,200 NEW ZEALANDERS MISSING THOUGHT TO BE MOSTLY PRISONERS OF WAR. MESSAGE FROM PRIME MINISTER. IBy Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. An announcement that lie had received a message yesterday from the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, stating that as a result of the Greek campaign some 2,200 New Zealanders were missing, was made by the Acting-Prime Minister, Air Nash, in an address las! night. Mr Nash said these men were not either in Crete or in Egypt, and the Government was fairly reliably informed that for the most part they must be assumed to be prisoners of war. Mr Nash said that the next-of-kin of some of these men classified as missing had been notified yesterday. Next-of-kin were being notified as soon as it was possible to get the information, and have it sent to 'them. More information about those now classified as missing might come to hand later, and next-of-kin and relatives of the men concerned would be advised of this. Though these men were now reported missing, it was well to remember there was quite a lot of hope that some of them might yet reach shores under the control of Britain or Greece, for only yesterday it was reported that 60 Australians had reached Crete after being on the way for several weeks. SOME MEN SAFE AFTER BEING REPORTED MISSING. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May 26. Advices from the Government to next-of-kin that soldier relatives had been reported as missing were beingdistributed throughout the weekend. In at least two cases in Auckland official advice that the soldier is missing has followed definite information from the man concerned that he is safe. This particularly applies in the case of one man whose father received * a cablegram from his son last Thursday stating. "Safe at last, fit-and well." On' Saturday he received official intimation from the Government thai his son had been reported missing.