Your telegram 247 of 27th April [1] we fully recognise that in
agreeing to despatch Australian forces to Greece, H.M. Government
in the Commonwealth of Australia laid great emphasis on equipment
of their troops to the maximum scale.

Reference to the Commander in Chief Middle East [2] indicates that
except for the fact that the third line of transport for the Sixth
Australian Division had to be on an improvised basis (i.e.

sufficient in numbers but not entirely of G. 1098 [3] type) this
condition was fulfilled as regards all essentials.

Marked deficiencies, as compared with establishment, existed in
motor cycles and two inch mortars but these were not regarded as
essentials and it was in fact only late arrival from the United
Kingdom which prevented further supplies of motor cycles being
available in time for issue to the division.

It is understood from the Commander in Chief that General Blamey
[4] and the Commander of the Sixth Australian Division [5] were
kept fully informed of the scales of equipment available for
formations proceeding to Greece and indeed we do not think that
the Commonwealth Government would suggest that the equipment was
not considered entirely adequate for the purpose. The matter
formed the subject of correspondence between the War Office and
Mr. Menzies [6] shortly before he left the country.

2. As regards the second and third paragraphs of your telegram,
loss of equipment in Greece has of course added considerably to
the problem of bringing up to mobilization scale the fighting
equipment of Australian troops now in Egypt which had been
proceeding satisfactorily.

It will be appreciated that equipment arriving from the United
Kingdom and elsewhere has to be used to the best possible
advantage having regard to the roles assigned to the various
formations in that area and large shipments of equipment are now
on their way to Egypt and all supplies which can be made available
will continue to be sent as rapidly as possible.

The War Office have already largely increased the Middle East
quota from May production and this will in many items more than
cover probable losses in Greece and enable some headway to be made
in reduction of general deficiencies and accumulation of reserves.

It is not practicable to give exact dates by which existing
deficiencies in any particular item of equipment will be fully
met. We should however like to assure the Commonwealth Government
that no effort will be spared to ensure that the needs of
Australian units which have already performed such remarkable
service in the Middle East will continue to be given every
consideration by us and by the Commander in Chief