BOUND FOR CRETE IN OPEN BOATS

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23323, 8 May 1941, Page 8

BOUND FOR CRETE IN OPEN BOATS

Escape Of Party Of New Zealanders PICKED UP BY THE NAVY (N.Z.E.F. Official News Service.) CAIRO, May 6. The courageous leadership and determination displayed by small parties that escaped successfully from Greek beaches, where the Nazis were in control before the evacuation was complete, will fill the hearts of those at home with pride in the resourcefulness and daring of their soldiers. While the organised withdrawals from the Greek shore were a triumph, it was only natural that they should be overshadowed for sheer drama by the adventures of little groups of men who refused to surrender, and after hair-breadth escapes were picked up by the ever-vigilant Navy from small boats. , , ... “We were waiting in the bush for nightfall when we heard the sound of an engine which. at first resembled that of another Nazi raider; but soon could be distinguished as that of a truck. A sergeant and a corporal went out to investigate. Before them was a brand new German car, in which stood an officer in a blue uniform, with a revolver in his hand, said a machine-gunner, relating the stirring experiences of a band of men. "Throw down your arms,” cried the Nazi officer. One glance at him and the n.c.o’s wheeled about and dived into a lane where the others were standing. Two revolver shots rang out, followed by bursts of machine-gun fire. , . „ . The sergeant told them that the Nazis had broken through, and at the same time thp German officer turned a tommy-gun on them as he spied them in the lane. Instead of surrendering. in less time than they realised they were in full flight through vineyards, bursting through cactus hedges unconscious of the sharp pain inflicted by the thorns. About half a mile away a little group collected and found that they numbered 22, including three officers. A decision was made to strike for the coast. There followed a tortuous journey through vineyards. They sneaked along hedges, and dived into ditches as. German machines fleW overhead, and finally plunged through a thick swamp for two and a half hours, with the water at times up to their waists. Always there was the thought in their minds that the Navy would not let them down.. Arrival at Coast “We reached the coast about a mile’ above a port, to hear the sound of guns, and to learn from the Greeks that the Germans were, there,” added the machine-gunner. “With the aid of an interpreter we learned of a fishing village some miles up the coast,, where we might be able to get a boat, and we had someone to. show us the way. We discarded all surplus gear, and set out. As we drew near an officer and two men went ahead, while the rest crouched under the lee of a shingle bank, anxiously awaiting their return. About half an hour later one returned to lead us silently to the shore, where we found three boats waiting. . ... 1 “Only two of us knew anything about sailing, so those in the biggest boat led the way, with the others keeping within hailing distance. A sergeant who came from Bluff, where he had worked on the oyster beds, took the tiller, setting a course by the stars. Progress was laboured, as the men were not used to using heavy oars, and the largest boat lost contact with the other two. About half-past three in the morning we heard the hum of turbines, and our spirits soared. So, with the aid of a torch, shielded by a steel helmet, we endeavoured to attract the attention of the boats by an SOS. But a thick mist lay over the bay, and we were not successful. “Dawn was now fast approaching, and we had to seek shelter, as the Nazi aeroplanes would not hesitate to bomb and machine-gun us if we were found. We set a course for land, and as day broke stepped ashore, wet and weary. We beached our boats and .concealed ourselves in the scrub along the slopes of the bay, where we slept from sheer exhaustlpn. “Soon, however, we were awakened by aeroplanes, and not long after another boat turned up, containing six more New Zealanders who had escaped from a port controlled by the Huns. They had heard that the Huns had been driven out of the port, but we knew that they could bring up reinforcements, so we did not decide to go back. ; “Never have I known so long a day to pass as we crouched there, hiding from the aeroplanes and German troops that passed along the road above our hiding place. During the afternoon peasants brought us food and water, and their kindness was unbounded. Much as we appreciated it, we lived in constant dread that they would betray us as they came and went. . To Sea Again

“We decided to make an attempt to reach Crete. Three boats set out again, with makeshift sails and what food and water there was divided up; but the smaller boats forged ahead, and were again lost. We carried on. “With the arrival of daylight, and as the day drew on, a burning sun shone from a cloudless sky on our open boat. Our spirits were high until about 9 a.m. we heard an ominous drone in the sky, and all save the man at the tiller crouched in the bottom of the boat, hoping that we would be mistaken for a Greek fishing craft, as we were parallel to the coast and about two miles out. Luck was with us, as we 1 heard him a little later bombing the bay behind us. How many alarms we had during the day I cannot recall, but none 'came near enough to spot us. About midday we were forced to take to the oars. “Infantrymen, cavalrymen, and machine-gunners, all strangers a few days before, were now discussing our chances of success, and cheering one another with good-natured chaff. The hours dragged on, but we never gave up hope, though the island we were steering for never seemed to get any closer. Between spells of rowing we dozed fitfully. The boat was leaking, and we had to bale frequently. “Shortly after 11 p.m. our dull senses Were aroused to alert wakefulness by the hum of turbines, and we rested on our oars • listening as the craft came nearer. In about 10 minutes we could make out the shapes of three destroyers ploughing towards us. We had no doubt as to what flag they flew. Only one navy was in these waters. We used our flash lamp with renewed hope. The boats circled around, ever getting nearer, a manoeuvre which we found out later was employed to make sure that we were not a decoy. They were taking no risks, for their guns were trained on us. We heard a hearty British hail. We were safe at last, We scrambled up the netting on the side of the nearest destroyer and were soon drinking scalding hot cocoa, and seeing the smiling faces of the sailors, who could not do enough for us. “A little later our rescuer went in towards the land and picked up another 200, and as dawn arrived were forced to give up the search and head for port. We can never feel thankful enough to the marvellous British Navy, which more than justified all the faith we had in it.” '