The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-04-23

have to race the Italians to the evacuation ports, possibly leaving behind much of the vast array of equipment they had brought to join in defense of their Allied country.
 Greece Did Not Consent
 King George said the Epirus army had made an armistice without consulting the government or the army chiefs and that "this armis- tice does not bind the free will of the nation, the king or the govern ment, which insists on continua- ton of the war with all our remain ing forces in order to safeguard the greatest national interest"
 Crete Is 60 miles from the Greek mainland; $50 miles from Alexan- dria, Egypt. It is the fourth largest Mediterranean island, 150 miles long; six to 35 miles wide, and has a pop ulation of more than 450 900. With the British fleet controlling the Eastern Mediterranean, the Greek government would be safe there ex- cept for air raids.
 British troops have occupied Crete for months, taking over several weeks before sending an expedition ary force to the Greek mainland. It was assumed that they had laid out airports and made port arrange ment for such an emergency as this. The island, crowded with inhabitants at the dawn of Greek history and a prize in many Mediterranean wars, has a rugged coast, mountains rang. ing up to 8,100 feet, deep caverns and rapid streams.
 The German conquest of Greece 14th victim of the German military and political blitzkriegs, probably will be dated from today, thus mak- ing 1t an 18-day hold-out. Germans attacked Greece and Jugoslavia April 6. Italians had attacked Greece last Oct. 28, had been driven back into Albania, and were still los- ing ground when the Germans came to their rescue. Hence, even though the Italian side of the Greek line capitulated, the Germans will get credit for the conquest.
 The British Imperials, at last re- ports had been at Thermopylae, 100 miles northwest of Athens, holding out at the "Hot Gates" where in 480 B. O., 300 Spartans died to the last man fighting a rear guard action against Xerxes' Asiatic hordes. The British had added an- other heroic chapter to Thermopy. lae,s history, fighting of overwheln- ingly superior German forces there before the Greeks threw open the British left flank.
 Tn a message to the people, the king said "The hard fate of war" had forced him to transfer Greeces capital to the Mediterranean Island.
 He said he would continue the struggle which the will of the whole nation and our duty to safe- guard our independence and in- tegrity have forced upon us."
 He said the Greek army of Epirus had negotiated an armistice and had capitulated without our knowledge or the knowledge Of the marshals and the government"
 My will. the will of the govern ment and the will of the Greek people has manifested itself many times in favor of continuing re- sistance to the end" the king said. "This was especially true after the German invasion.
 "The British came to our assist ance, fought heroically and are still fighting on Greek soil"
 King Gives Good Cheer
 The king told at this point of the capitulation of the Greek army holding the west Hank of the de- fense line.
 "This act of armistice does not bind the free will of the nation, the king or the government, which in- sists on a continuation of the war with all our remaining forces in order to safeguard the greater na- tional interest.
 eve are therefore going to Crete, which we do only to be able to con- tinue the struggle against the iia- vader until Q final victory frees Greek soil
 Don't be disappointed, Greeks" the king said.
 During these difiicult moments in our history I will always be with you. The righteousness of our struggle and God will help us to succeed Remain firm believers in the ideal of a united. undivided, free parliament. Intensity your wills. Give the enemy force and difficulty have courage, the good days will come again. Long