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We dare not rely once again on the dispatch of forces after German action has made it too late for such help to be effective. But that is the cxact situation which we shall face if Germany plays her cards with her usual skill and we merely build up a strategic reserve in Egypt.
(B) Greece.
12.
Now that we cannot get into Macedonia in time it is doubly necessary to establish ourselves strongly and at once in Southern Greece, Crete, and the Dodecanese. We should at once build up strong forces in Crete and, if possible, persuade the Greeks to let us do the same in Southern Greece.
Greek
13. In her own time Germany will enter Greece. resources alone will be unable to stem a determined German advance southwards towards Mount Olympus and subsequently to Athens, Such assistance as we can give will be provided by the Air Force, relying on the Greeks to make a stable front behind which these squadrons can operate.
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If Germany sweeps into Greece while the Greeks are still committed to the Albanian front, the Greek Army will be cut off from its bases and will probably have to
surrender The Greek Government may then sue for peace. Our policy in Greece, therefore, should be based primarily on preventing this from happening.
15. A front could be established on the Lamia- Lepanto line through which the Gerlians would have great difficulty in penetrating, particularly if thorough demolitions had been previously carried out along the route from Salonika to Lamia. If we could hold the Lamia-Lepanto line with some of the divisions released from Libya, together with what remains of the Greek Army, we should extend the Germans and probably be able to prevent them reaching Athens and placing themselves in a position from which Crete would be gravely menaced.
16.
The
Behind the Lamia-Lepanto line there are a number of aerodromes on which we could base our air forces. capture of the Dodecanese would provide us with still more, whilst the establishment of landing grounds in itylene and Iemncs would also be valuable. It is clear that our presc.t policy of preparing first-lus acroaromes in northern and central Greece is one which will be of much greater benefit to the Germans than to ourselves.
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17. Aerodromes in West Horea are also admirably placed for carrying out attacks against Sicily and Italy. In fact the distance from Naples to Malta is little less
With aerodromes than from Naples to Araxos or Agrinton. established here we could withdraw our bomber force from Malta and still be in a position to threaten Italy and Italian communications.
18.
To sum up, I propose :-
(a) that we should persuade Turkey to agree
to the early dispatch of British forces, particularly R.A.F., squadrons and technical troops;
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