ANOTHER GERMAN ATTACK

Southland Times, Issue 24447, 29 May 1941, Page 5

ANOTHER GERMAN ATTACK

British Troops Have

To Withdraw

(8.0W.) RUGBY, May 27. Most recent details of the fighting in Crete are given in a British communique issued by General Headquarters in Cairo. It says:

“Supported by further intensive bombing German troops in the area west of Canea launched another attack yesterday evening and enlarged their penetration of our defences. This necessitated the withdrawal of our troops to positions in the rear. German reinforcements continue to reach the island by air. Heavy fighting is continuing.”

In a statement in the House of Commons on the war situation, the Prime Minister, Mr Winston Churchill, speaking of the Battle of Crete, said:

“It has now lasted for a week. During the whole of that week British and Imperial troops have been subjected to intense and continuous large-scale air attacks against which the Royal Air Force has been able to make only a very limited counter-attack because of the geographical conditions. Fighting has been most severe, although the enemy’s losses up to the present have been much the heavier. Air-borne reinforcements to the enemy could not be prevented and his attack has grown from day to day. “The battle has swayed backwards and forwards with indescribable fury at Canea and also, but on a smaller scale, at Rethymo and Herakleon.” REINFORCEMENTS FOR CRETE After referring to the reinforcements of men and supplies which, he said, had reached and were continuing to reach Major-General Freyberg’s forces, Mi- Churchill continued: “At the moment of speaking the issue of this very magnificent resistance hangs in the balance. So far the Navy has prevented any landings of a sea-borne expedition, although a few small shiploads of j:roops in Greek caiques may have slipped through.” Giving the Alexandria correspondent of the British United Press an eyewitness account of the fighting in Crete a British soldier told how the sky was lit up by German parachutists, who became balls of flame as they leaped from planes set on fire by anti-aircraft fire. Many were burned to death as they fell. “Early on May 21 we saw divebombers coming over in waves and then troop-carriers, nine at a time, but our anti-aircraft fire was hitting them hard,” he said. “Some parachutists tried to jump from the burning planes and in the mad confusion their parachutes caught fire. Other parachutes failed to open.