BATTLE OF CRETE

Evening Star, Issue 23908, 11 June 1941, Page 7

BATTLE OF CRETE

HOUSE OF COMMONS DEBATE CRITICISMS AND ICESTIiNS INADEQUACY OF AIR SUPPORT STRESSED (British Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright (Rec. 10.35 a.m.) RUGBY, June 10. Opening tho House of Commons debate on Crete, Air H. B. Lees-Smith asked how it happened that at quite an early stage of the battle the aerodromes at Malcmi and Heraklion, which had been in British occupation for seven months, were abandoned by the Air Force, whose withdrawal, ho suggested, directly led to the subsequent reverses. Tho capture of Malcmi aerodrome was the turning point of the battle, and he asked why it was not provided with adequate defences. After the Air Force ■withdrew there ivas an interval of 48 hours when no Air Force was over Crete until alternative support came from Egypt. The main land fighting weapons seemed to be the tommy gun, and it was rather surprising that the Germans were better equipped with this weapon than the British Imperial troops, who, it is reported, relied largely on such tommy guns as they captured from the Germans. Air Lees-Smith asked why more use had not been made of Cretan fighting men. One of the novel methods of the Gormans which particularly impressed him was the method of crash landing by machines built for one journey and crashed at surprising places. From these machines a formation emerged which was able to go into action as soon as it landed. Attacks by these air-carried formations would be most effective from isolated districts, and ho suggested that southern Ireland might be such a place. Although the conquest of Eire would not mean conquest of Britain, large numbers of troops might have to be diverted to deal with the situation when urgently required elsewhere. He thought it should he made clear to neutral countries that the Eastern Alediterranean was not the primary theatre of war, hut the British. Isles and the Atlantic Ocean.. When the time arrived for Britain to take the initiative if Hitler did not win the Battle of the Atlantic the small countries he conquered would be a liability, not an asset. Continuing the debate, Air Hore Belisha questioned the powers of the Commander, and stating that the establishment of the Fleet Air Ann had been amply justified, he asked why the process had not been carried as far in the Army, and why the ground commander on the spot had not been given command over land aircraft. He pointed out that Crete proved that an air-borne invasion over 100 miles of sea could be successfully accomplished if the Navy could not count on full air support. Urging the vital importance of speedy repair of aerodromes after enemy attack, Air Hore Belisha said British methods evidently were far behind the Germans in this 1 respect. Sir Percy Harris said whoever was ‘responsible for tho defence of Crete had grossly underestimated the resources of -the enemy, and he asked for an assurance that there was close and adequate liaison between tho Army and the Air Force. Air Beverley Baxter wanted to know by whose authority the Air Force was withdrawn from Crete, and asked who decided that it was preferable to lose eight ships rather than sacrifice 90 aeroplanes. Britain was fighting men, who, although criminal in character, had tremendous intellectual power. After paying high tribute to the inspiring leadership of the Prime Alinister. Mr Baxter said he did'not think the Government in its present form could lead to victory, and suggested that the War Cabinet was too largo. Lord Winterton said it was obvious that the House was in a serious, not to ,say sombre, mood. The Prime Almister * had the support of tho whole country and Parliament, and was certainly ‘ the best possible man for the nosU If there was no criticism in Parliament it meant there was totalitarian government. He did not believe the present Government had all the fighting power of the nation.

OIL STOCKS DEPLETED AXIS /EGEAN BASES DEMANDS OH TURKEY REJECTED LONDON. June 9. Tt is reported from Istanbul that all along the Axis coastlines from the Black Sea to Genoa Germans and Italians are scrambling for _ ships in ■which to carry petrol to their -aLgean air bases, where the stocks were depleted during the Crete campaign Almost anything that will float is being taken. The Germans hoped to secure the Greek tanker fleet, but the Greeks were too quick', and most of the vessels are already safe in British ports. The Germans recently asked the Turks to hand over 50 Diesel-engined tankerbarges owned by British companies and formerly used for transporting Rumanian oil, hut the Turks refused. Units of the Turkish fleet are reported to he patrolling the Dardanelles. Meanwhile Allied raiders, including R A.F. mine-laying planes and submarines. are taking toll of Axis shipping, in the Eastern Alediterranean and the .Egean. According to Istanbul reports at least half i dozen Axis ships were sunk last week. HERR HESS NO STATEMENT BY GOVERNMENT (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 10.35 a.m.) RUGBY, June 10. Answering a question in the House of Commons regarding Herr Hess, including a request for information as to whether he brought proposals of a solution of European problems, Air Churchill said: “ I have no statement to make about this person at the present time, hut the Government is being kept informed on the subject of his flight to Britain.” The Prime Alinister added, replying to a supplementary question. “ If at any time the Government thinks a statement necessary or advisable it will certainly he made.”