EVACUATION OF CRETE

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23352, 11 June 1941, Page 7

EVACUATION OF CRETE

More Than 17,000 Rescued THREE WARSHIPS LOST (8.0. W.) RUGBY, June 9. The Navy was responsible for the successful evacuation of more than 17,000 - British and Imperial troops from Crete during the recent operations. These operations, which naturally have not been conducted without loss, are well described in an Admiralty communique announcing the loss; of the anti-aircraft cruiser Calcutta, and the destroyers Hereward and Imperial. The communique states; “The Hereward was last seen heading towards the coast after having been damaged by enemy air attack. The Italian. High Command has announced that 229 survivors from the Hereward were landed and are prisoners of war.* The Imperial had to be sunk by our forces after being damaged by enemy air attack. "The withdrawal of the troops from Crete had to be carried out from places with inadequate port facilities, and which were within easy reach of enemy forces. The necessity for carrying out the embarkations by night meant that each load of men had to be taken 360 miles to Egypt during the whole 14 hours of daylight. These voyages were carried . out in- the face of extremely heavy enemy air attacks. “In the circumstances, it was impossible to assess with accuracy the damage inflicted on enemy aircraft by anti-aircraft gunfire, but it is known that many were destroyed and others damaged. Naval aircraft, during the operations, also shot down four enemy aeroplanes and probably destroyed one other and damaged three. “During the withdrawal from Suda Bay Royal Marines formed the rearguard. These men, who had been carrying out various duties as well as manning the defences, were hastily formed into an infantry brigade under MajorGeneral C. Weston of the Royal Marines. They fought with great gallantry and proved themselves worthy of the highest tradition of the corps. It is known that a number of this brigade had to be left in Crete.” The following message was sent from General Sir Archibald Wavell to Major-General Weston, on the night of May 31: “You know of the heroic effort which the Navy has made to rescue you. I hope you will be able to get away most of those who remain, but this is the last night that the Navy can come. Please tell those who have to be left that the fight which they have put up against such odds has won the admiration of all of us, and that every effort to bring them back is being made. “Major-General Freyberg has told me how magnificently your marines have fought and of your- own grand work. I have also heard of the heroic fight of the young Greek soldiers. I send you all my grateful thanks.” The Calcutta was a cruiser built in 1918 and converted to an anti-aircraft ship in 1939. She was of 4200 tons and carried a complement of 400 men. Her armament consisted of eight 4in antiaircraft guns, one multiple pom-pom, and several smaller ones. The Hereward was a destroyer of 1340 tons, and had a complement of 145 men. She carried four 4.7 in and six smaller guns, and had eight 21in torpedo tubes. She was completed in 1936 at a cost of about £300,000. The Imperial was of 1370 tons, and carried similar armament, but had two more torpedo tubes than the Hereward. Her complement was also 145. She was completed in 1937.

BRITISH CABINET CRITICISED “Churchill Must Have A Better Team” ATTACK BY MEMBER OP COMMONS (Received June 10, 7 p.m.) LONDON, June 9. “Mr Churchill must have a better team before Britain can be served better,” said Sir Herbert Williams, M.P.. in a speech. He added that, a coalition Government necessarily' consisted of toadies and yes-men, thus eliminating party criticism and competition. “This is one of the reasons for many of the war blunders. It is a real peril to the country that Mr Churchill, who is a Premier of genius, should be regarded beyond challenge and criticism as an inspired demi-god. ■ . _ “We have tolerated in Government departments an inefficiency which has appalled me.” [Sir Herbert Williams is Secretary of the Machine Tool Department of the Ministry of Munitions. In 1939 he was chairman of the executive committee of the London Conservative Party. From 1911 to 1928 he was secretary and manager of the Machine Tool Trades Association, and has been director of the Empire Industries Association since 1926, except for a break of three years from 1928. He has been Conservative member of Parliament for South Croydon since 1932.] BRITAIN’S FIRE SERVICES ORGANISATION TO BE RECONSTITUTED (8.0. W.) RUGBY, June 9. Britain’s fire-fighting organisation is to be reconstituted and centralised under a new Ministry of Home Security scheme. A Fire Service Council is to be set up, of which Mr Herbert Morrison, Minister for Home Security, will be .chairman. . Commander A. N. G. Firebrace, chief officer of the London Fire Brigade, will be chief of the fire staff and inspector-in-chief of fire services. A staff college for training senior officers will be established. In place of the existing 1400 local fire brigades, there will be 32 fire forces in England and Wales, plus others to be settled in the London region. Each force will be made up by combining in relatively large geographical areas regular and auxiliary personnel in present fire brigades. In some cases as many as 32 to 45 of the present brigades will go to make up one of the nei# fire forces. Each of the forces will be under the command of an officer known as a fire force commander. Supervision qf the fire forces in each civil defence region will be m the ■hands of a regional commissioner. Fire force commanders in larger areas will have deputies. There will be staff and technical officers for such work as water supplies, control of transport, communications, stores, and so on. Juliana and Bernhard to Visit U.S. — It is understood in official Dutch circles in London that President Roosevelt has invited Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, to spend a day with Mr and Mrs Roosevelt on the occasion of their forthcoming visit to the United States.' ; The invitation has been accepted.—London, June 8.