FAILURE OF NAZI PLAN

Southland Times, Issue 24437, 17 May 1941, Page 6

FAILURE OF NAZI PLAN

Attempt To Cut Off New Zealanders

(From Official War Correspondent)

CAIRO, May 15.

Every day has brought more evidence to show how flat fell the last desperate enemy bid to decimate the New Zealand force as it formed the rearguard of the British evacuation. This was a mass landing of parachute troops on Corinth Isthmus in an obvious attempt to cut the retreat in the rear while the main German forces pressed on in the drive toward Athens. It is now clear that the paracnutists landed at a time when they had no opportunity to disrupt any large retiring column. The bulk of the New Zealanders were already on the water or approaching the embarkation beaches in southern Greece. The only other large force was still north of Athens harassing and delaying the German advance until the moment came to withdraw through the city to the eastern beaches. A small mixed force, including New Zealand cavalry, infantry and engineer detachments, which had been posted to protect Isthmus roads, bore the brunt of the parachute troops’ attack and inflicted considerable casualties. One captured cavalry officer told me how parachutists were marching him in a small party of prisoners along a road through a cutting when a South Island infantry section opened fire over their heads. The prisoners took cover while the rescuers cleaned up the German guards. Another New Zealander in a British party made a successful dash for liberty after their vehicle was held up in a village, and there were many similar escapes. PARACHUTE LANDING New Zealanders who saw the parachute landing at close range said the operation was as smoothly managed as an event at a peace-time military demonstration. It began at 6.45. a.m. with an intense air attack over a circle of about 500 acres in extent. For more than an hour low-flying planes, never fewer than 50 in number, assailed every likely spot of cover with bombs, bullets and even hand grenades. Then one of the great slow machines appeared over the circle, dropping by parachute containers apparently holding supplies. “More big lumbering planes in formations of nine next came over, shedding parachutists like feathers. Each held about 35 men, who dropped from a few hundred feet. Some planes were towing gliders which held the same number of troops,” an eye-witness declared. Estimated at more than 1000, the whole force was on the ground in less than an hour. The troops rallied immediately around the leaders, who were distinguished by reddish brown parachutes.