Evening star., 1942-08-16

of a nation OF over $4,000 600, while be-
hind the Italians, hidden in an ominous
cloud of Nordic mist, lay the threatening
might of the German Reich. A total
war had begun.
The vast Pindus range of mountains,
which became the center of the opera
tions, is desolate, rugged and trackless.
1t has the most beautiful scenery in the
world, but it is grim territory especially
in winter, for fighting Rocks rising five
six and seven thousand feet high, preci-
pices, chasms, rushing torrents. deep snow
and bitter cold, no roads for motor tram
sport and often no bridges. This was the
ground upon which the small Greek
Army had to organize its defense against
a dastardly attack delivered without
warning. The army went forward
eagerly enough and met the invaders,
but no army can fight for long II 1t is
not supplied, and in this crisis the in
habitants of the mountain villages OF
Pindus truly saved their country. For
the women, the old men and the chill
dren of those villages marched out and
carried food, supplies, stores and NUM-
tions to the troops at the front over
ground which no army supply service
could have mastered in so short time.
Civilians Saved Day.
In long lines these humble people
marched for 10 or II hours at stretch,
carrying heavy packages on their backs,
in order to give the soldiers of Greece
food for their courage and food for their
An lie 1ood
commanders skill. no hero's bravery
deserving OF more praise or honor than
those humble, nameless folk whose
magnificent courage thwarted the
Italians and who were determined that
Greece should never die.
Now Greece has been overwhelmed by
the Nazis. This small country Of 8,0O0,-
600 inhabitants has, it is true, been over
whelmed by the machinery of two en-
pires, and yet Hitler has sustained his
first serious defeat on Greek soil. It is
a serious defeat, not only because the
Greek resistance vitality disarranged the
strategic plans of the Axis powers, but
also, and chiefly, because the stigma
which attaches to the brutal manner in
which this peace-loving nation was over
run without any valid reason other than
that Of sheer lust Of conquest, Is one
which Germany will never be able to
erase from her history.
There is no doubt that, strategically
0reeces six months Of resistance against
the Italians and her further seven weeks
of stubborn lighting against the Ger
mans on the mainland and In Crete was
serious blow to the Axis. For Hitler
was an easy expedition Of conquest in
order to lay his hands on the harbors.
the airflelds and the islands OF Greece
early in November, 1910, and from there
to launch violent attack on Egypt and
the Middle East at time when the
British and imperial forces were not
fully prepared to receive it. 1
Couse Of Struggle Changed. 4
Thus in this field of operations Ahe
Greek resistance against the Axis powers
changed the whole course Of the war
and the happy turn Of events in Syria,
Iran, Iraq, with their effect upon the
policy of Turkey, was a direct result of
Greeces action.
Furthermore, the valuable time gained
by the Greek resistance held up Hitler's
plans for the invasion of Russia, which
he could not attempt with the rear of
his armies exposed, and thus sufncient
delay was afforded Great Britain and
America. not only to send adequate ma
terial aid to the Eastern front, but also
to acquire further puissant ally in the
Russian winter, the disastrous effects
OF which were sorely felt by the Ger
mans.
The punishment meted out by the ex-
ponents of the new order" to the Greek
people for their crime in defending their
land with so much stubbornness has
been indeed ferocious.
The German armies marched down
from the north burning, destroying and
plundering. In Macedonia, the Bull
garians, who were not even at war with
Greece. came in on the heels Of their
masters and laid waste the land. They
turned out over 10000 peaceful farmers
from their villages and farms and
massacred well over 10000 Greeks in
the northern provinces. Today starva-
ton Is rampant in Greece. particularly
in the big towns.
The following is an extract from an
official report confirmed by the rep
resentatives of the International Red
Cross who recently visited Athens:
'The Greek people are literally dying
in the streets from hunger. Every morn
ing large lorries patrol Athens al,u The
Piraeus, taking away the bsdies Of those
who have died in the streets-many Of
them unidentified. They are buried In
. common grave without coff1ns, owing
to lack OF timber, and also owing to
lack Of means of the poorer people.
According to the oficial entries In the
municipal registers drom October /.
1941, to January 26, 1912, ie.. four
months), the number Of deaths in Athens
and the Piraeus rose to 10000. This flg-
ure, says the Greek Red Cross, is not
accurate. because many families do not
disclose the deaths in their homes, in
order that they may not be deprived
Of the ration cards for the meager and
irregular distribution of food. On the
basis OF special investigations, deaths
during the above period should be reck-
oned to have reached, If not to have
exceeded, the figure of 10000 great
many of them children; that is, an
average OF $50 daily, which is eight times
the normal mortality figure"
That Is the price that Greece has
had to pay for her loyalty to the cause
of freedono and vet fhora }c ,,,+ :. 60