GERMAN METHODS

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

GERMAN METHODS

HUMAN SCREEN USE OF PRISONERS FIELD AMBULANCE MEN ESCAPE OF N.Z. PARTY (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (N.Z.E.F, Official News Service.) (Per Cable ami Wireless Limited) (Reed. May 30, 9 a.m.) CAIRO, May 29. The Australian official war correspondent states that details of the German attack on Canea and the Malemi airport were given by three New Zealanders who returned to Cairo with a party of wounded. The men are members of a field ambulance unit. “We were having breakfast on the morning of May 21 when we were alarmed by the terrific drone of planes,” said one of the party. “We were at a hospital near the Malemi aerodrome. “We looked out to sea and saw the sky black with planes. The antiaircraft batteries opened a heavy fire, but the planes seemed too low and rose only when almost overhead. “Parachute troops started to tumble out; landing. everywhere around the hospital. We were unarmed and being a non-combataht? unit had no option but to surrender. Shot to Pieces “German troops were everywhere, but a mile or so away those coming down near our troops were being shot to pieces. By midday they had us rounded up and marched us towards Galatos, where they sat us down on the hillside with Germans armed with tommy guns guarding us. “All day we stopped there, watching literally hundreds of planes dropping men or crash landing on the beaches. They seemed to gain control of the aerodrome near midday and started landing big troop-carriers, many of which were immediately set on fire by the Australian artillery. “There was fighting going on everywhere. The parachutists were being killed like flies. They landed about 50 by mistake right among some Maoris and they lasted about 10 seconds.

“All that day they were also dropping supplies, much of which fell among our troops. “About 1600 New Zealanders drove the enemy back from Galatos. Our guards dropped behind us prisoners, using us as cover. This did not help them as they were soon shot and we were free again. Hundred Fires Burning “We attended to the wounded at once. It has been going on ever since. “They secured a footing on the aerodrome and plane after plane came in and unloaded troops and supplies and flew off again. They bombed hell out of us and machine-gunned our lines. We prayed for night. “A hundred fires were burning on the aerodrome as we hit their planes. Others crashed. “They have a flare system, as well as signal flags, indicating what they want and their positions, so that they would not be bombed. "The whole area was thick with dead huns, but still they kept coming. Last Friday they bombed Canea town all day and blew it off the map. Most of the civilians had made for the hills. The streets were running with olive oil from the store rooms. “The Germans came in waves of 50 or 60 planes and flew a few feet above the trees. They blew up the wireless station.

“We spent the day in the trenches dressing wounded, while the scrapping went on round the aerodrome. The German losses are unbelievable, but still they come.”