7000 Germans Invading Crete

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21969, 22 May 1941, Page 5

7000 Germans Invading Crete

Situation Said to be Well In Hand

Parachutists Land in N.Z. Battle Dress

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received 1 a.m.) LONDON, May 21. THE German attack on Crete is continuing and about 7000 air-borne troops are said to be taking part. The Germans are also reported to have attempted to land troops from the sea but the situation is well in hand. The air-borne division at present operating is in addition to parachutists which were landed earlier and which were said to be attired in the battle dress of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Some of the German troop-carrying ’planes associated with the attack have been shot down. Several of the parachutists attired in New Zealand uniforms have been captured alive. Their fate is a matter for the Commander on the Island but they will be tried by a proper court.

The German tactics have been for the parachute troops to land first. They then send out signals and the air-borne troops are landed. The landings have been made mostly in the west of the Island but a few have been landed in the north.

The military authorities in Crete had completely mastered the first attack by yesterday afternoon, according to official Greek circles. All the German l parachutists were either killed or captured. German military authorities in a statement described the offensive against Crete for which every preparation was made, including every kind of weapon, as a commencement of the decisive battle for Suez. They added that the High Command was absolutely sure that Crete would be conquered in the next few hours.

In a statement in the House of Commons yesterday afternoon the Prime Minister (Mr Churchill) indicated that most of the Germans had been accounted for, but that a fairly Strong enemy party southward of the Canea-Malemi road had not yet been mopped up. The situation, however, was in hand at noon to-day. The enemy landings were preceded by a good deal of intense bombing. Apparently the capture of the Maleini aerodrome was the enemy's objective, but this so far had failed. A military hospital between Canea and Malemi, which the enemy had captured had been recaptured. The attempted invasion was carried out by 1500 parachute troops brought in troop-carrying aeroplanes and gliders from occupied aerodromes in Greece. "In the last few days our reconnoitring aeroplanes have noticed very heavy concentrations of German aircraft of all kinds in southern Greece, and we have been attacking them night after night inflicting considerable damage, said the Prime Minister in the House. “It is now clear that these concentrations were the prelude to the attack upon Crete. “Our troops in Crete are British, New Zealand and Greek, under the command of Major-General B. C. Freyberg, V.C., and I feel confident that the most stem and resolute resistance will be offered to the enemy.” The wearing of uniforms other than their own by troops of a belligerent nation b a breach of international law and there is much speculation in London regarding what will be done with German troops captured in New Zealand uniforms. Unless they are wearing the uniforms of the units to which they belong, Captured troops are not entitled to the consideration usually extended to prisoners of war under international law and may, in fact, be rItLRSPfi as snips The BBC to-night broadcast the following in German: “Every German soldi r mu:. know that whoever in violation of international law fights in enemy uniform must expect to be shot immediately when taken prisoner.” The military correspondent of the "Dally Telegraph” says that the German use of New Zealand uniforms raises a difficult question of international law, but it is difficult to see how troops in foreign uniform differ from franctireurs. They therefore do not merit treatment as prisoners of war. Berlin officials said that if it was true that German parachutists landed at Crete. Mr Churchill’s assertion that they wore New Zealand uniforms was absolutely false. They added that Ger-

man parachutists were recently equipped with khaki uniforms similar to those of German troops in Africa for use in tropical climates, "so a mistake might h - • been made.” 1

Challenge To Sea Power "Provided we can get enough fighters to the scene to take care of enemy fighters, troop-carriers and divebombers simultaneously, our chances of beating off the Invasion of Crete is good,” says the "Dally Mail.” "For the

first time the Germans launched air-borne troops without sea and land support thus indicating that the Luftwaffe is sure of overwhelming aerial superiority. The Germans will be able to operate fighters from the Greek mainland, but while we retain landing grounds at Crete which are not more than three. Royal Air Force reinforcements can be flown from Egypt. The battle of Crete is really a challenge by dive-bombers to our Mediterranean sea power.” It is now known that 13, not eight, enemy aircraft were destroyed over Crete on Friday.