740.0011 European War 1939/7063: Telegram
The Minister in Greece (MacVeagh) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 8—9:55 a.m.]
348. The Director General of the Foreign Office and the Turkish Ambassador both expressed to me yesterday their growing satisfaction with the present diplomatic situation in the Balkans and their belief that Germany intends to take no military measures here this winter. According to the former, routine relations between the Foreign Office and the German Legation continue smoothly.
On the Albanian front the Italians appear to be resorting to the rather desperate maneuver of throwing in reinforcements piecemeal. According to the British Military Attaché units of one and the same division have recently been captured at widely separated points along the front. He also said that the British are assisting the Greeks by [Page 570] furnishing supplies and that the most pressing problem at present aside from obtaining planes is connected with the furnishing of ammunition most of the Greek cannon being of a different caliber from the British.
I have been confidentially informed from reliable sources that active Greek aviation has now been reduced from 105 to slightly over 30 planes owing not only to heavy outright losses but to the lack of repair facilities. There are 4 British squadrons now in Greece namely 1 pursuit squadron of gladiators, 2 of Blenheim bombers and 1 mixed. All are of reduced strength averaging 8 planes apiece although it is hoped that they may be filled up to 16 later on. In addition a fifth squadron is expected to arrive shortly but it is believed that no more than 5 can now be operated in Greece successfully on account of the present limited airfield capacity. With the exception of a military mission engaged in exploring the question of further assistance and despite radio and press propaganda to the contrary there are no British troops in this country today beyond those connected with the Royal Air Force as reported in my telegram 313 of November 18, 11 a.m.56 These number abount 4,000.
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