ATTACK CONTINUES

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

ATTACK CONTINUES

GERMAN LANDING IN CRETE.

AT LEAST 7000 MEN EMPLOYED.

THE SITUATION IN HAND.,

United Press Association —Copyright ' LONDON, May 21.

The Gormans are continuing to attack Crete with parachute and airborne troops, but the situation is said to be in hand. It is believed that at least 7000 men are involved in the attempted invasion.

A statement issued in London says that German parachute and airborne troops continued to land in Crete from dawn to dusk yesterday. Attempts were also made at naval landings. It is pointed out that when it is said that the* situation is in hand, this does not mean that, every parachute and airborne soldier has been mopped up. It is believed that some of the troop-carrying planes used in the operations were shot down before they could land on the. island.

Most of the German landings, have been made on the western end of the island, but some troops landed in the Heraclion district. There is no information to show that any tanks have been dropped by the Germans.

The statement adds that the landing of German troops disguised in the uniform of the Now Zealand armed foi’ces is a matter for local commanders to deal with. Some of these disguised troops have been captured. It is not expected that they will be shot out of hand, but that they will be tried and dealt with by a proper court.

Mr Churchill told the House that the latest message he had received stated that there had been continuous enemy reconnaissance, accompanied by sporadic machine-gunning, whiefly against the anti-aircraft defences. The Heraclion aerodrome had been bombed, but there had been no landing so far. “Provided we can get enough fighters to the scene to take care of enemy fighters, troop-carriers and dive-boinb-ers simultaneously, our chances of beating off the invasion of Crete are good,” says the “Daily Mail.’’ “For the first time the Germans have launched airborne troops ,with6ut sea or land support, thus indicating that the Luftwaffe is sure of overwhelming aerial superiority. “The Gormans will be able to operate fighters from the Greek mainland, but while we retain the landing grounds in Ci'cte, which are not more than three. Royal'Air F'orce reinforcements can ))o flown from Egypt. “The battle in Crete is really the dive-bombers’ challenge to our Mediterranean sea power.” The wearing of uniforms other than their own by troops of a belligerent nation is a breach of international law; and there is much speculation in London regarding what will be done with German troops captured in New Zealand uniforms. Unless they are wear-* ing the uniforms of the units to which they belong, captured troops are not entitled to the consideration usually extended to prisoners of war under international law, and may, in fact, be classed as spies. A British Broadcasting Corporation broadcast last night in German said: “Every Gorman soldier must know that whoever in violation of international law fights in enemy uniform must expect to be shot immediately when he is taken prisoner.” . The military correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says the German use of New Zealand uniforms raises a difficult question of international law. but it is difficult to see how troops in foreign uniform differ from franc tireurs. Therefore they do not merit, treatment as prisoners of war.

Berlin officials said if it was true that German parachutists had landed in Crete, Mr Churchill’s assertion that they wore New Zealand uniforms was absolutely false. They added that German parachutists were recently equipped with khaki uniforms similar to those of the German troops in Africa for use in tropical climates. “So a mistake has been made.”

. A statement by military authorities in Berlin described the offensive against Crete, for which every preparation had been made, including every kind of weapon, as the commencement of a decisive battle for Suez. It added that tho High Comnfand was absolutely sure that Crete would be conquered in the next few hours.

The Cairo correspondent om . “ The Times” says that a strong force of Anzacs has arrived at Cyprus to reinforce the existing British and local garrisons.