BIG-SCALE ATTACK ON CRETE FORECAST

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 114, 16 May 1941, Page 9

BIG-SCALE ATTACK ON CRETE FORECAST

TURKISH REPORTS

Nazi Planes, Duce's Navy

And Land Forces

Ignited Pro«*> Association.—CoprrlcbtRec. 2.30 p.m. IXJNDON, this day.

"The Times" Istanbul correspondent says that reports from various sources indicate the imminence of a large-scale attack on Crete with combined operations of the Luftwaffe. the Italian Navy and landing forces, launched from the Dodecanese. Cyclades and Peloponnesus.

The R.A.F. Middle East communique. quoted by the British Official Wireless, states that in an attack on Tuesday night, when bombers of the R.A.F. raided Bengasi, direct hits were scored on the railway, buildings at the military headquarters, the governorate. the base of the cathedral and the mole. Some fires were started, but detailed observations of the damage were difficult. Numerous reconnaissance flights and fighter patrols were carried out over enemy territory in Cyrenaica yesterday.

In the Dodecanese on the previous night the aerodromes of Maritza and Calato were attacked. Fires -were started and - many bombs fell near dispersed aircraft.

In Iraq British aircraft continued to attack rebel positions and objectives of military value such as aerodromes, railways and motor transport. Amara." Rashed. Mosul and the railway line to Bagdad were all raided.

In central Abyssinia, direct hits were obtained oh Fort Mendl, and machine-gun posts and troops we attacked by aircraft of the SMfe African Air Force.

On the night of May 13-14 enemy aircraft raided Malta. Some slight damage was caused R.A.F. property, but there were no casualties, civilian or military. Another small raid •was carried out yesterday. Our fighters intercepted the enemy and drove them off. From all these operations twt» British aircraft were lost, but the pilot of one escaped safely by parachute.