DECISIVE EFFECT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 November 1941, Page 5

DECISIVE EFFECT

OF GREEK RESISTANCE NAZI ATTACK ON RUSSIA | DELAYED. TRIBUTE TO KING & PEOPLE. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 5. The King of Greece, speaking in London said it was an honour to rule over his country at so great a moment in history. Greece had strained every sinew through the years for the right to develop the free and independent lives of her people in her corner of this earth. Greece had tried to keep out of the gigantic vortex on the the brink of which she found herself. She. thought she had accomplished that when both Britain and Italy guaranteed her integrity. He said: . “Italy dishonoured her pledge but Britain as usual kept hers. Only brigands would have acted as Italy did on the night of October 28, 1940.”

Mr Richard Law, Under-Foreign Secretary, said: “Athens and ancient Greece are living again. The way in which Greece stood up to the might of the German invasion is not only a glorious example. It is one of the most decisive battles of the war and as we can now well believe one of the decisive battles of the world. We do know that the Greek campaign postponed the German attack, on Russia by six weeks —42 days. What would Hitler give now to have those 42 days back again. There was a Roman Emperor who in the despair of his heart cried: ‘Give me back my legions!’ What would Hitler give to have his legions back again! Those 42 days cost him tens of thousands. Hundreds of thousands of Germans have perished or will perish in the Russian winter and all because in cne tiny corner of Europe there was a king and a people who said: ‘We will not count the cost, but come what may we will never submit.’ ”