LOSSES IN CRETE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 June 1941, Page 5

LOSSES IN CRETE

2,800 NEW ZEALANDERS NOT ACCOUNTED FOR MAJORITY REGARDED AS MISSING. STATEMENT BY ACTING-PREMIER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. An announcement that all the information at present in possession of the Government showed that 2800 New Zealand soldiers were unaccounted for following the evacuation from Crete was made by the Acting-Prime Minister, Mr Nash, in an address last night. He said the majority of these men could probably correctly be recorded as missing. Immediately further advice was received about every soldier the next-of-kin would be notified and the information later made public. Mr Nash said that there was not a lot of information from the Middle East yesterday. While there were still large numbers unaccounted for, that day's news suggested that a larger number than the 15,000 mentioned on Sunday had been evacuated from Crete. This was good news, but till the figures were checked up he could not give the exact figures. "Of the number of our men who were on the island some thousands have arrived in Egypt, including some 768 wounded, and there are still approximately 2800 of our men unaccounted for,” said Mr Nash. "Some of these may still arrive, but in the meantime they are unaccounted for and the majority can probably correctly be recorded as missing.” Reference was made by Mr Nash to the Official News Service account of the arrival of the New Zealand troops in Egypt. He said it was a graphic story and illustrated their magnificent spirit. "We are fortunate in these islands to be so far away from the war zone',” said Mr Nash. "But our good fortune places an added,responsibility on every one of us. We must work things out so that every hour of time that can be used to extend the war effort is so used, that every ounce of material that can be produced to extend the war effort is so produced, that every thought that can‘be fostered and encouraged to steel our hearts to hold to our principles, cost what it may. is encouraged and fostered. With the quiet humility of strength—and the strength of humility—we will reinforce our determination as is so graphically expressed in the story of the landing of our men when they reached Egypt.

"The needs of the Homeland and our soldiers must take precedence over our own needs.”

In conclusion. Mr Nasli said that when he had turned up I lie calendar on his study table that morning Io June 3. he had. read printed on it some delightful words, so expressive of the needs of today. They were: "What more of us need most is to need less.”