RISKS TAKEN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 June 1941, Page 4

RISKS TAKEN

1 IN REINFORCING MIDDLE EAST ALL MATERIAL AS YET FROM BRITAIN. STATEMENT BY MR MENZIES. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) MELBOURNE, June 2. The Prim? Minister, Mr Menzies, said today, “Our defeat in Crete is undoubtedly a serious blow, though once again the proportion of men who have been got off is higher than might have been expected. It is within my knowledge that every conceivable step for a long time past has. been taken by the Home authorities to reinforce the Middle East with men and weapons, tanks and aircraft. In making such reinforcements great risks on occasions have been accepted by the naval forces. Every week has strengthened our capacity to defend the vital zone of Egypt and the Suez. From this viewpoint, the holding up of the enemy in Crete and the heavy losses inflicted have been of great value. By upsetting the German timetable the British have been able to clear up the situation in Iraq. Thegreat disability in Crete was the shortage, and then the absence of suitable air bases. "In future we.will not suffer such a disability but will meet the enemy with growing forces and aircraft bases in areas under our own control. While the peril is admitted, there is no reason for pessimism. “All the time I sat on the War Cabinet in London I found the utmost readiness to accept risks and send every possible tank, gun and aeroplane to the Middle East. Every armoured unit there and every aeroplane comes from Britain, and also practically the whole of the artillery.

GERMANS IN SYRIA REPORTED ARRIVAL BY SEA. LONDON. June 2. According to a radio broadcast from Ankara, which is confirmed by the Columbia network, the first contingent of German troops has arrived in Svria by coastal- freighters. It is presumed that they came from the Dodecanese Islands and slipped between Cyprus and the Turkish coast during’ the night.