SETBACK ADMITTED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 November 1943, Page 3

SETBACK ADMITTED

IN ATTEMPT TO OCCUPY AEGEAN ISLANDS STATEMENT BY MR ATTLEE IN COMMONS. OBJECTS NOT ACHIEVED. LONDON, November 24. lii a statement in the House of Commons the Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Attlee) admitted that a setback had been suffered in the Dodecanese Islands. He said the objects aimed at in the occupation of these Aegean islands were to compel the Germans to disperse their strength,, so assisting the Allied invasion of Italy, and to take advantage of the opportunities arising out of the Italian surrender. On the night of September 9, Mr Attlee said, a small British force went to the principal Dodecanese island of Rhodes. There was a garrison of 9000 Germans and 40,000 Italians, but the latter made no effort to tackle the Germans, and the British force withdrew, turning its attention to Kos and Leros. In Kos also the Italians made no effort against the Germans. The German attack on Kos was heavy, but the enemy suffered considerable losses of men and aircraft. Leros was defended gallantly, but the garrison was defeated chiefly by enemy air attacks. Allied aircraft had to operate from bases 300 miles away.' Apart from their casualties in the fighting on Leros, the Germans had at least 4000 men drowned. Mr Attlee said he had no doubt that if the Allies had not attempted to occupy the Dodecanese islands they would have been blamed for lack of enterprise.