Germans Attempt Naval Landing

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 119, 22 May 1941, Page 7

Germans Attempt Naval Landing

DEFENCES STRONG Many Troop Carrying Planes Crashed Or Shot Down (United Press Association.—Copyright.— Reed. 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 21. It is reported in London that naval landings were also attempted at Crete but the situation is in hand. Airborne troops « continued to land from dawn to dusk on Tuesday. It is believed that the Germans do not control any aerodromes. At least 7000 German troops are thought to have been involved, as well as parachutists. The 7000 comprise one airborne division, which usually consists of two infantry regiments smaller than normal infantry regiments, also an artillery regiment with 24 mountain guns, one anti-tank battalion and a reconnaissance unit together with signals, engineers, motor cyclists police and medical personnel. A division uses about 250 planes, each making three to four journeys. Some of the troop carriers and gliders attacking Crete were shot down before they landed. There is every reason to believe that large numbers of the troops were captured alive. | Nazis In Battledress—Germans' Threat It will be for Major-General B. C. Freyberg. V.C.. to deal with those of the enemy wearing New Zealand battledress, but it is not expected that they would be shot without trial. It is now announced from Berlin that German parachutists and airborne troops landed in Crete early on Tuesday after intensive preparation by dive bomber attacks. It is claimed that the German troops by bold thrusts have taken a number of points in Crete and that the operations are continuing according to plan. The Berlin statement added that retaliatory measures would be taken ten-fold against British prisoners if Mr. Churchill's statement about Germans wearing New Zealand uniforms was made an excuse for the treatment of German parachutists contrary to international law. "Must Expect Battle To Grow" The Prime Minister, Mr. Churchill, in the House of Commons •wording to British Official Wireless, said: "In the Suda Bay area a further airborne attack was 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," said Mr. Churchill, "we must expect the fighting to continue with increasing severity." Asked if the charges that the Nazis were wearing the New Zealand battledress had been substantiated, Mr. Churchill replied, Ye*— and another report says that those landed at Rethymno were wearing English battledress. I see the Germans denied this." Throughout yesterday the island of Crete was subjected to a series of intensive air attacks, in the intervals of which fresh waves of German parachute and airborne troops landed at various pomta, says a Cairo communique. Heavy fighting continued throughout the day, in which the enemy sustained serious losses, while Empire losses were comparatively light. At one point a Uerman detachment, which had succeeded in penetrating into the outskirts of Canea, was quickly surrounded and accounted for. Operations are continuing. German Methods Of Attack , attack is expected to continue to-day. It can be stated Tk'* iSn ° * ack °* contr °l over anv J a rg e Part of the island. , ,^ ere ls reason to think that at least one airborne division nas been involved, in addition to parachutists. Such a division fc 0 ?. n°t normally include any parachute troops, but includes, beside other units, two motor anti-aircraft gun companies. •An airborne division includes a number of transport vehicles, and consequently the troops carry orders to requisition vehicles on landing. There is a higher percentage of officers and non-commissioned officers than in any ordinary division. The Procedure would be first to put down parachutists. If successful, hey would signal for airborne troops, machines and gliders to i j re ls no information to suggest that any light tanks have wen dropped or that they were included in the German airborne ivwion. It appears that landings from the air continued until n k n feht. No information is yet made public as to the numbers rounded up or put out of action after landing. It is, owever, known that a considerable number of troop carriers '[ere _ intercepted and shot down. The outstanding fact is that «»e situation is in hand.