FIGHTING ALL DAY

Grey River Argus, 23 May 1941, Page 5

FIGHTING ALL DAY

In Crete on Wednesday (Received May 22. 11.30 p.m.). LONDON. May 22. There has been no official com-

munique yet issued about the fighting in Crete during Wednesday. Messages from a Cairo correspondent, however, say that fighting continued in full-blast throughout the

day. SECOND AIR DIVISION Called on by Enemy NO QUICK SUCCESS NOW LIKELY.

. LONDON, May 22. News of Crete operations is m and without details. Hand-to-han fighting is reported. The New Zea landers are expected to give a to o account of themselves m tneu guerilla operations. ~ It is anticipated that the G mans, to succeed, must do so quit* ly, and exceptional efforts can be pected of them. The British have been fighting the evaders for two days already, so the occupation not bo sudden. ur<,K A H fnrces The enemy has established in various places, but h^ 01 i e link _ be secure, these forces must ed Held up by the capture <”r kll of the first parachutists, mans after sending one an-borne divirion, are now evidently usingi a second such division. It 1S co ™ de nd ed that the German High Comma would not in any even, cad a h It until their losses had been great . the attack proved hopeless. An attempt to land tanks is being pZi.ous ade effoS m apparently 11 ' filing

been tried unsuccessfully. The warfare is typically f 1 ’ The parachutists included a g percentage of specialists, and these hivn been accounted tor It is considered probable that th* enemv will have lost considerably through attacks being made on troop carrying planes, and that some of the carrier planes will have been damaged in landing where they could do so; i _ Enemy Silent ABOUT OPERATIONS. (Received May 22, 11.40P- m ->- ■ LONDON, May 22. Perhaps it is significant that the German High Command have not yet issued any communique. nnpr n. No word about the Cr te P ‘ tions has yet appeared in the Ger man, Italian or French press. German Report POINTS CAPTURED IN CRETE. LONDON, May 21. It is now announced from Berlin that German parachutists and airborne troops landed in Crete ea on May 20, after an intensive preparation by dive-bomber attacks. It is claimed that the German troops, by bold thrusts, have taken a 'number of points in Crete, and that. the operations are continuing accordin Q to plan. GERMAN THREAT. LONDON .May 21. It is stated at Berlin that retaliatory measures would be taken tenfold against British prisoners, -if Mr Churchill’s statement about Germans wearing New Zealand uniforms were made the excuse for the treatment of German parachutists contrary to international law. R.A.F. RAIDS IN GREECE. RUGBY, May 21. ' A R.A.F. communique states: Last night, our heavy bombers carried out intensive raids on Germanoccupied aerodromes in Greece. Details are not yet available. Enemy Air Division A DESCRIPTION. RUGBY, May 21. A German air-borne division comprises two infantry regiments, consisting of rifle companies, and one machine-gun company, and one artillery regiment, with 24 mounta.n guns of 75 millimetres, as well as an anti-tank battalion, equipped with 37 millimetre guns, and a divisional reconnaissance unit, probably motorcyclists, as well as signallers and other details. There are also two motor anti-aircraft gun compani .s. An air-borne division includes number of transport vehicles, ana the troops carrying orders to requisition vehicles on landing. There a higher percentage of officers and non-commissioned officers than in an 'ordinary division. Some 250 aircraft are in the service of each division, and it is expected these would each make three or four journeys. BRITISH LOSSES LIGHT. RUGBY, May 21. A Cairo General Headquarters, communique states: Crete, through-, out yesterday, was subjected to al series of intensive air attacks in intervals of which fresh waves of German parachute and air-borne troops ; landed at various points. Heavy fighting continued throughout . the, day, in which the enemy sustained serious losses, while ours were com-, paratively light. At one point, a German detachment which succeeded in penetrating into the outskirts of Canea, was quickly surrounded and accounted for. Operations are continuing. BRITISH 1 WARSHIPS ENGAGED. ENEMY BOMBERS AT WORK. LONDON, May 21. German reports suggest that strong ! British naval forces are active in the i East Mediterranean. I The German Radio claimed that bombers directly hit a battleship, five cruisers, and a destroyer, west of Crete. NAVY’S PART. LONDON, May 21. The Navy is participating in the Crete operations, said Mr. Alexander (First Lord 'of the Admiralty).