NAZI ADVANTAGE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20571, 3 June 1941, Page 9

NAZI ADVANTAGE

NEAR AIR BASES CONSCRIPTED LABOUR NEW LANDING GROUNDS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. June 2, 2.50 p.m.) LONDON, June 1. It is assumed that the Allied commander, Major-General B. C. Freyberg, came out with the troops from Crete. It is not yet known what proportioh of Dominion troops is among those saved. It is impossible to indicate in London at present how many troops we bad in Crete, or when the evacuation started, or if the evacuation has been Completed. It is believed that the number of troops withdrawn does not include Greek troops. The Rfiyal Air Force spokesman in Cairo said: “The air supremacy which swept the Germans through Yugoslavia and Greece into Crete cannot continue beyond Crete. If the Germans carry the Luftwaffe to the mainland of Africa or Asia Minor the situation will be largely reversed. “Even if the Germans attempt an invasion of Cyprus, they will not have the same vantage positions for bases. , Conscription of Labour “The two main reasons why the Germans were able to get innumerable airfields in Greece and the islands were the weather improvement and the ruthless labour policy under which they conscripted all males under 50 years of age for the construction of landing grounds. “Neither the parachute troops, nor the dive-bombers were as effective in Crete as the Germans apparently hoped. More important factors were the landing of troops by plane and fighters machine-gunning from low altitudes. “The tide turned when the Germans were able to land troops by plane. Attacks from the air rather than by the parachutists’ ground operations opened the way for such landings.” A German communique says: "The mopping lip of the rest of the British troops in Crete continues. Ten thousand British and Greek prisoners h'aVe so far been taken.” An Italian communique says Italians met Germans on Crete on Saturday.