CRISIS OF BATTLE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 121, 24 May 1941, Page 1 (Supplement)

CRISIS OF BATTLE

HEROICSTINDBY DODDERS OF CRETE FIERCER FIGHTING Desperate Effort By Nazis To Hold Aerodrome United Press Association.—Copyright. Rec. 5.30 p.m. LONDON, May 23. From the very confused situation in Crete one fact alone emerges with any clarity—that small combined forces of New Zealand, Australian, British and Greek troops Cretan Home Guards are putting up the fight of a lifetime. Apart from the official communique there is little news of the fighting, but it is thought that the crisis may be reached during the week-end. The present phase of the fighting may be described as the Battle of the Aerodromes. Fighting of the bitterest and bloodiest type is going on continuously, small groups of men engaging in hand-to-hand combat. Between the main points of contact—Candia, Rethymno and Canea—there are a hundred smaller fights. The Germans have obtained a real foothold at Malemi. which they have practically cleared, and aro now using as a landing ground. Our gunners shoot down and destroy on landing a large number of German troop-carriers, but the wrecks are hastily cleared away to make room for other planes. The invaders are fighting to the death for every yard to hold Malemi, facing attack after attack by picked men from MajorGeneral Freyberg's forces. Swarms of Parachutists Swarm after swarm of German parachutists were again dropped on the island yesterday, and troopcarrying planes landing at Malemi, brought further reinforcements. German losses have been heavy. At least 1G heavily-laden troopcarriers have been shot down by anti-aircraft fire in the air alone. Strong bands of German infantry have swept the area around the airfield with continuous patrols so that the big troop-carriers could operate a continuous service. The British military spokesman at Cairo considers there is a good possibility that the Germans will be thrown out from Malemi aerodrome. Tommy-guns, machine-guns and mortars are the chief weapons being used. The British alone are using tanks and hand-grenades. There is no evidence that the Germans have landed any tanks or motor cycle combinations as used in Flanders. The navy is reported to have smashed one convoy and scattered another comprising 30 ships. It is known that ships from both convoys were sunk with heavy loss of personnel.