IMPERIAL TROOPS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20571, 3 June 1941, Page 6

IMPERIAL TROOPS

CRETE EVACUATION ANZACS’ FIERCE FIGHT(EIec. Tel. Copyrisht—United Press Assn.) (Rccd. June 3. 1.30 p.m.) ALEXANDRIA, June 2. Unbelievable scenes of enthusiasm were witnessed at a Middle East port to-day as shipload after shipload Of New Zealand. Australian and British Iroops arrived from Crete, says the Australian war correspondent. It was from the same port over 26 years ago the original Anzacs and British troops left for their great adventtire. It was to that port, to-day their sons returned after efforis just as forlorn. The gallant returning men were cheered right down the harbour, nor was the cheering directed to them alone. Every man back m Egypt is fully conscious of the heroism and personal sacrifice of the navy that made his evacuation even remotely possible. The men all bore evident traces of the ordeal they had been through. A score of units were intermingled, blit here was no demoralised or beaten army. Nearly every man was still armed. All leapt to the command of their officers. Swiftly they filed into trains and trucks and soon all were on the way to clean clothes and bath 0 and every comfort that can possibly be devised for an army. Nightmare March All had the same tale to tell of bitter fighting and a nightmare march across the island with never a let up from the air. “We walked for three nights and hid in the hills in the daytime,” said an Australian. "We were hungry, lousy and worn out, but we kept going. For miles there was a constant! stream of soldiers making for the evacuation points, while not far behind the New Zealanders were fighting a terrific rearguard'action.” The New Zealanders were relieved by the Australians, who fought it right out and held the Germans back. All day they bombed and machinegunned us. The boys never left one wounded man behind. They commandeered donkeys when they could or just lifted them, along. Water was at precious as gold. Often we punched holes in radiators of broken down car and got what rusty water was left. Plenty of chaps carried it along in their tin hats. Finally, we got to the coast and at 4 a.m. to-day we waded out to our necks and were picked up by waiting boats. “The sailors were marvellous. They could not do enough for us. Food and hot drinks were on tap all the time.”

To-night men are still coming in, many of them almost too weary to lift their feet. Yet there was no air of defeat in the most exhausted man, but too often comes the tired refrain; “You can’t fight an air force from the ground."