AIRBORNE TROOPS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20568, 30 May 1941, Page 5

AIRBORNE TROOPS

STREAM OF PLANES NEARLY 300 IN DAY ATTACK ON 'DROME ANZACS’ RESISTANCE (British Official Wireleßs.) Reed. 11.30 a.nt. RUGBY, May 29. The methods of the German parachutists in the attack on Crete were further described in an interview with a news agency correspondent of the News Exchange Agency in Cairo by a young officer who told in vivid terms of the first parachutists coming down on a hilltop—perhaps 1000 of them and at least 100 were killed before touching the ground, or as. they landed. “Wearing zipp-fastened overalls of a greenish colour over webbing equipment, they were finely-built men, but were shaking all over as they were brought in,” stated the officer. “One I searched had dropped from 210 ft. Three others captured by our men asked to be shot. They said they had had enough of war. "Another captured parachutist was 15 years of age. Supplies of Food

“The parachutists’ food containers were filled with chololate, biscuits, coffee and whisky ahd their objective was to gather at the top of the hill and attack the aerodrome. All those who came down in the valley were quickly rounded up by New Zealanders. “Then down came parachutes of a different colour with containers carrying two tommy guns, hand grenades, anti-tank rifles, ammunition, food, water, telescopes, small wireless sets and even trench mortars. “Each parachutist had two lights, red and white. Red indicated ‘I am in possession of this land’ and white ‘form up on me.’ ” After describing hand-to-hand fighting and bayonet encounters between Imperial troops and the parachutists the officer continued: “Next morning the first air carrier arrived, landed its troops, and got away again at once. This went on all day and by the evening 10 of these machines were lying about the ground wrecked or blazing. That day 280 troop-carriers landed, but the next day the number was reduced to 60. Officer and 16 Men in Plane “Each plane contained an officer and 16 men, fully equipped. They seemed to come every quarter of an hour from 9 a.m. until 7.30 p.m. “Around the aerodrome the fighting was fierce. The Australians pushed the Germans back for a mile and ahalf. almost getting back to the aerodrome, and the Maoris were using their bayonets with deadly effect. “A group of Australians was surrounded, but managed to get away and reached the top of the hill and under deadly fire rolled trees down below. “New Zealanders attacked and captured a hospital. They managed to remove British wounded and held the building long enough to assure their retreat. One group of three officers and 66 men were left at the Canea aerodrome and, fighting all the way, 49 regained their own lines.”