How Evacuation Was Carried Out

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 103, 2 May 1941, Page 7

How Evacuation Was Carried Out

Difficult Task on Open Beaches AUSSIE BREN GUNNERS CRASH PIVE JUNKERS LONDON, May 1. The latest news of the evacuation from Greece comes in a communique this morning from Cairo in which it is revealed that 48,000 British and Anzac troops have been safely conveyed to British ports. It is revealed that the- Navy, the merchant service and the Air x orco collaborated in the great undertaking. Open beaches had to bo used for embarkation which was carried out under continued enemy pressure by land and air. A British officer who has arrived at a friendly port stated that all sorts of craft were used. A Sunderland flying boat which was supposed to carry 60 men actually took 70 on one of its many trips. “We were waiting our turn to leave in a fishing boat,” he said, “when word came that a destroyer was at hand. I can tell you that was most welcome news, more welcome even than it was at Dunkirk. It took 100 aboard and steamed away. Soon a liner loomed up, and we were transferred to its decks by the unseen hands of the Navy. At 7.30 in the evening German aircraft appeared out of the sky and during that night we had four long attacks but the liner beat them off without damage. “We joined a convoy which was repeatedly attacked and one of the ships was damaged, but all .on ooard were safely transferred to the other vessels.

“In one air attack the Australians on board brought their Bren guns into action and five Junkers crashed into the sea. After the first day there were no more raids and the journey continued without further incident.*' “What I saw of the withdrawal,’*

■aid an officer, “was carried out in a most efficient, way. The Greeks are splendid people and right up to the last moment they were our friends. And they still are. We look forward to the day when we can return and help them to free their country from the oppressor.’* It is now learned that units of the Yugoslav Navy have reached a British port. They include a submarine built in a British shipyard and two motor torpedo-boats.

The Stefan! News Agency claims that Italian troops transported by seaplane have occupied Argostoli (in the lonian Sea, on the island of Kephallenia).