New Zealand Stand Wins Enemy Tribute

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 97, 24 April 1941, Page 7

New Zealand Stand Wins Enemy Tribute

GERMANS HELD 40 HOURS LONDON, April 22. The German press pays a tribute to tho heroism of the New Zealanders in defending the gap between Mount Olympus and tho Aegean *Sea on April 16, says the Berlin correspondent of the British United Press. It says that for 40 hours this narrow valley, six miles long, was fiercely defended by the New Zealanders, whose well-aimed artillery and machine-gun fire brought to a standstill the German advance The New Zealanders' machinegun nests had to be taken one after another. German motor-cycle troops tried to rush the gap, but were forced back. Finally, tanks, making a frontal atack, pierced the New Zealand positions, but several tanks were blown up by landmines before the Now Zealanders withdrew. Heavy laud and air fighting continues along the whole of the Allied front in Greece, according to military circles in Athens. The Imperial Forces have maintained close contact with the Greeks despite the difficulties of their hotly-contested withdrawal. The . Athens correspondent of The Times that all units agree that the Germans had a tremendous advantage by possessing the support, of overwhelming number of aircraft. Withdrawing across the Larissa Plain to the Domoko Plateau, our troops were able to use only one road, and German bombers concentrated on it. The position was similar with roads farther back.

A correspondent who watched the withdrawal during the last two days said there were always a couple of Dorniers and Heinkels in sight. Bombs continually crashed down the roads used by our transport. He saw only two British planes all the time.

“The crux of the matter,” he declares, “is that our troops must have more planes if thoy are to do themselves justice.”