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Morley Richards Fifty-fifty Army It was hoped that Greeks fighting in the south-west of the mainland would be able to embark from Missolonghu, but the Germans succeeded in reaching there on Saturday, and may have prevented any substantial withdrawal. Mr. Churchill's answer to the propagandists who tried to spread the story that Australians and New Zealanders were left to fight the Empire's battle in Greece could not have been more emphatic. It was a fifty-fifty army (half dominion, half British). In fact, several familiar county regiments and other crack British units have taken part in some of the fiercest fighting. Mr. Churchill thinks there is reason for quiet optimism over the position on the Egyptian border. 30,000 beat 300,000 General Rommel has some serious difficulties to face whether he advances or whether he attempts to stay put. We always had sea superiority in the waters of Libya; now complete air superiority has been reasserted. A new and strong army is on the Nile. How great was Wavell's triumph over the Italians is proved by the revelation that never more than two divisions (about 30,000 men) were in action at one time against the 300,000 of Mussolini's army. But it does show what risks we took to aid Greece that only one armoured brigade (between 3,000 and 4,000 men, and tanks) was left to hold the Cyrenaican border.
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