Evening star., 1941-04-30
$4,000 Saved
From Greece,
British Report
10000 Unuccounted
For; Casualties
Put at ; 900
BACKGROUND

Put at J, 900
BACKGROUND
German conquest Of YugoSlaUiu
and Greece 1UaS completed in
little more than three 1DeekS after
the Palm Sunday inuaSion. Whtch
lUGS the elimination of Ger
nlany'S Balkan campaign, begun
by diplomacy last fall. British
fought rear guard actions in later
phases Of Greek campaign, pro-
tecttng evacuation OF forces sent
there from Africa.
By Il Associated Press.
LONDON, April 30.-Three-
quarters of the 10000 British
soldiers who tried to save Greece
have been taken away to fight
on other fronts, it was officially
announced today, and there is
hope that still more may be
taken out.
In Cairo, the Middle East COM
mand war bulletin said simply that
the withdrawal from Greece is con-
tinuing satisfactorily"
Prime Minister Churchill, follow
ing up an earlier disclosure by an
authoritative source, said the $4,000,
including a division each of New
Zealanders and Australians, had
suffered about 5000 casualties, leav-
ing $4,000 men still unaccounted for.
Replying to a question in the
House of Commons, Mr.. Churchill
held out hope that the $4,000 figure
on those evacuated could be en-
larged.
Il believe I said at least 45,000,"
he said, stressing' the "at least"
(The German high command
reported capture of 5000 British
soldiers)
Imperial Forces Praised.
Mr. Churchill said the $4,000 had
safely reached their bases. He paid
high praise to the fighting qualities
of the imperial forces and declared
that their losses occurred mainly
around Mount Olympus, Grevena
and Thermopylae.
These losses. he went on, were
small compared to the losses in
f1icted on the Germans who on
some occasions for two days at a
time were brought to a standstill by
forces one-fifth their number"
He declared fervently that "the
conduct of our troops. and especially
the rear guard, in fighting their way
so many miles to the sea merits the
highest praise
1T is the first instance" the Prime
Minister said, where air bombing
prolonged day after day has failed
to break discipline and order of
marching columns who, besides
being thus assailed from the air,
were pursued by no less than three
armored divisions as well as the
whole strength of German mech
anized forces which could be
brought to bear"
Nazi Casualties Heavy.
Without giving figures for Ger
man casualties, Mr.. Churchill said
the Nazis also had suffered heavily
in offensives against the Greek and
Yugoslav Armies.
He said there would be a fuller ac-
count of the Greek campaign in the
full dress debate scheduled for next
week and the House cheered him
when he said that painful as are
our losses, we have much to be
thankful for and empire forces have
much to be proud Of
Concerning evacuation or destruc-
ton of heavy equipment, Mr..
Churchill told another questioner,
heavy equipment could not, of
course, be removed, but the Germans
are not short of heavy equipment u
Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden
what had become of Greece's navy,
but the house cheered him wildly
when he agreed to convey to Greek
Premier Emmanuel Tsouderos, ION
behalf of the house and nation, our
deep gratitude for the magnificent
courage and endurance which the
Greek army has shown and for their
loyalty as allies"
Mr.. Eden agreed to a request for
full publicity on advice from the
Greek government on April 81 that
Britain withdraw her expeditionary
force because the Greek army was
exhausted, Greeces arsenals bare of
supplies and no useful purpose could
be served by further sacrifices.
On April 81, Greece's Epirus and
Macedonian armies were negotiating
surrender, other Greeks and the
British were falling back across the
Thessaly Plains and resistance had
turned into mere bitter-end delay
ing actions.
Translation of Message.
The Foreign Office news depart
ment issued this translation of the
Greek message to the British gov
ernment:
THE Greek government, while
expressing to the British govern
ment and to the gallant imperial
troops their gratitude for the aid
which they have extended to Grssss
in her defense against the unjust
(See GREEK Page A-6l