NAZI THOUSANDS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20570, 2 June 1941, Page 5

NAZI THOUSANDS

LANDINGS CONTINUE ITAUANS IN CONTACT CASUALTIES ESTIMATED (Reod. June 2. 9 a.m.) LONDON, June 1. Reports received late on Friday stated that the situation in Crete was most serious, resembling the closing days of the Greek campaign. The Germans described the movements of the British forces as though the battle had virtually ended. Reports from Cairo stated that the Germans continued to land reinforce - ments, but the British forces still held Candia and heavy fighting was continuing, The King of Greece was preparing to enter British territory. He and the Cabinet decided to remain near the Greek troops who would continue the struggle from the Middle East. The Germans have not captured stocks of Greek gold, either in Greece or in Crete. The national gold was safely transferred to New York. The King’s personal funds were outside Greece. A Greek Government spokesman told The Times Cairo correspondent on Friday that the German casualties in Cr6te had reached 12,000, including 70Q0 shot in the air or on landing and 5000 drowned in attempting to invade from the sea. The 30,000 who reached the island comprised two divisions of parachutists and glider troops, s One airborne division and two regi--ments of shock troops who were part of the division were lost at sea. . Civilian Casualties High

The British and Greek troops, fighting from defended positions, suffered fewer casualties, but the civilian casualties on the north coast were high. Since the British had virtually no heavy equipment on Crete the losses in tanks, guns and lorries were under those of any previous expeditionary force.

The part which Greek skippers played in enlarging the German losses is being revealed. It is stated that they' were forced at gunpoint to man their caiques, but in the darkness they deliberately crashed them on the rocks. Piles of wreckage round Suda Bay were a monument to theii courage. Thousands of Germans were spilled in deep water to drown. The Cretans were most active saboteurs. They wrecked the light, water and power plants in Canea ana other northern villages and set fire to the few remaining petrol dumps. A German communique issued on Friday said the operations for the possession of Crete were approaching the end. “Enemy resistance has collapsed,” stated the German communique. Yesterday’s German communique indicated that the cleaning-up m Crete was not being accomplished as speedily as had been expected. It said the Germans continued the pursuit of the beaten enemy and made junction with the Italians. It was only a matter of time. The Berlin news agency claimed that the British forces were trapped. German troops, after a forced march, were approaching Sphakia and the Italians were advancing from the east of Crete.