FURTHER ATTACK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 22 May 1941, Page 5

FURTHER ATTACK

3000 MEN DROPPED NEARLY ALL ACCOUNTED FOR FIGHTING OF INCREASED SEVERITY EXPECTED (Rec. 11.30 am.) Rugby, May 21 The Prime Minister, Mr Churchill, in the House of Commons said: "In the Suda Bay area a further airborne attack was commenced at 4.30 p.m. yesterday. About 3000 men were dropped and by 6.30 p.m. the greater part of these were accounted for. The method of attack was dive-bombers and Messerschmitts followed by gliders and parachutes. In the Herakleon and Rathymo areas the attacks began at 5.30 p.m. by parachutes. Troopcarrying aircraft, many of which crashed, also landed there, but there are no details yet. Of course, we must expect fighting to continue with increasing severity." Asked if the charges that the Nazis were wearing New Zealand battledress could be substantiated, Mr Churchill replied: “Yes, and another report says that those landed at Rethymno were wearing English battledress. I see the Germans denied this." NAZIS IN BRITISH UNIFORMS Asked in the House of Commons if the Nazis in British uniforms would be dealt with in accordance with international law, Mr Churchill said that he was not sufficiently informed of the exact circumstances. “I think we must leave a certain amount of discretion to those on the spot,” he added.

NAVAL LANDINGS ALSO ATTEMPTED

NAZIS IN N.Z. BATTLEDRESS (Rec. 11.45 a.m.) London, May 21. It is reported in London that naval landings were also attempted at Crete, but the situation is in hand. There is every reason to believe that large numbers of troops have been captured alive. It will be for Major-General Freyberg to deal with the enemy wearing New Zealand battledress, but it is not expected that they would be shot without trial. BERLIN REPORT It is now announced from Berlin that German parachutists and airborne troops landed in Crete early on 20th after intensive preparation by divebomber attacks. It is claimed that German troops in bold thrusts have taken a number of points in Crete. Operations are continuing according to plan. Retaliatory measures would be taken tenfold against British prisoners if Mr Churchill’s statement about Germans wearing New Zealand uniforms was made an excuse for the treatment of German parachutists contrary to international law.

AUSTRALIAN TROOPS

STATEMENT BY MINISTER (Rec. 12.20 p.m.) Melbourne, This Day. The Minister for the Army, Mr Spender, stated that a substantial number of Australian troops had landed in Crete after the evacuation of Greece. They are under the command of MajorGeneral Freyberg. Recent despatches did not fully reveal the extent to which these troops had been relieved by British units. Mr Spender said he had not received any report to indicate that Australians had arrived in Cyprus, as reported in London.