AIRBORNE TROOPS LAND

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 187, 22 May 1941, Page 5

AIRBORNE TROOPS LAND

PLANES AND GLIDERS AFTER DIVE-BOMBING

MANY ENEMY PLANES CRASH

1 United Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, May 21. In the House of Commons, Mr Churchill said: “In the Suda Bay area of Crete a further airborne attack commenced at 4.30 p.m. yesterday. About 3000 men were dropped, and by 6.30 p.m. the greater part of these had been accounted for. The method of attack was by dive - bombers and Messerschmitts, followed by gliders and parachutes. “In the Heraclion and Rethymno areas, the attacks began at 5.30 p.m. by parachutes. Troop-carrying aircraft, many of which crashed, also landed. There are no details yet. Of course, we must expect the fighting to continue in increasing severity.” British Official Wireless.

MORE GERMANS LANDED.

INTENSIVE ATTACKS MADE.

ENEMY’S SERIOUS LOSSES

(Rec. 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, May 21. A communique issued by Genera< Headquarters at Cairo states:

“Throughout yesterday the island of Crete was subjected to a series of intensive air attacks, in the intervals of which, fresh waves of Gei-man para chute and other airborne troops landed at various points. Heavy fighting continued throughout the day, in which the enemy sustained serious losses while purs were comparatively light. At one point a German detachment which had succeeded in penetrating into the out skirts of Canea (the capital) was quickly surrounded and accounted for. Operations are continuing.”—British Official Wireless.

OftE OF THE GREATEST OF WAR.

CONFLICT IN CRETE DESCRIBED.

SUPERIORITY OF THE BRITISH. (Roc. 11.40) LONDON, May 21. “One of the greatest battles in the course of the war,” is how the First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr A. V. Alexander) to-day described the battle for Crete. Speaking in support of the war weapons week, Mr Alexander said: “Wo are demonstrating that where Englishmen met the Germans in battle on equal terms there was no doubt about which was the right man on whom to put one’s money. —British Official Wireless.

LONG JOURNEY IN BOAT.

BRITISH AND MAORI SOLDIERS.

PARTY ARRIVES IN CRETE

(Rec. 1.30 a.m.) CAIRO, May 21. Believed to bo the last British soldiers to leave Greece, a small party of New Zealand cavalrymen and Maoris reached Crete in a leaky rowing-boat shortly before the German parachutists attacked.

Originally cut off near the Corinth Canal, tliey sneaked about the mountains and olive groves for days, during the Germans. The villagers fed them and provided them with civilian clothes. Tho. soldiers then found an 18-foot rowing-boat on the beach and made a passage of 140 miles to Crete with one pair of oars.