RAIDS MADE ON CRETE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 5, 6 July 1943, Page 5

RAIDS MADE ON CRETE

Small British Forces

Ree. 11.15 a.m. RUGBY, July 5. The landing" on Crete of British patrols is announced in a special Middle Bast communique.

"Small British land forces carried out raids on airfields in Crete last night,'' says the communique. '' The operations were successful. A number of enemy aircraft were destroyed on the ground. All our patrols withdrew safely."

Following the reading of the communique, a message to the people of Crete was broadcast in the Greek and other languages employed on the island, telling them that this was not invasion and warning them not to take action which would give the Germans an excuse for reprisals. The message continued:, "The day is coming when the signal will be given for the warriors of Crete to fight side by side with invasion forces to exact justice for our enemies' crimes. Till then, stay in your places and await your moment. You know that the forces which maje this raid neither1

asked nor received the assistance of the local inhabitants. The Germans know this, too. Resist their attempts to drive you into exposing yourselves into premature action. The Germans, know you have no responsibility for these raids. If they take action against you they are committing a breach of international law. They know they will be punished for outrages they commit."—B.O.W. Ree. 12.50 p.m. LONDON, July 5. The Crete raid was carried out by British troops from the Middle East.

The raiders burned a large quantity, of petrol. The population had no previous knowledge that the raid had been planned.