NO NAVAL LANDINGS ON CRETE SO FAR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 120, 24 May 1941, Page 5

NO NAVAL LANDINGS ON CRETE SO FAR

GERMAN SIEGE BY AIR STILL GOES ON “EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF” PARACHUTE TROOPS BROUGHT IN 24-HOUR FERRY London, May 23. Up To dusk yesterday, no German forces had been landed on Crete from the sea. The battle against airborne and parachute troops is still going on, and in many cases the order of the day for the defenders is “Every man for himself,’’ as groups, or individual soldiers never know the moment they may be rubbing shoulders with an enemy dropped by parachute. Mr. Winston Churchill, in the House of Commons, said that the Navy was dealing with attempts to land troops by sea. One enemy convoy of 30 ships was Turned away, and he had not heard what its fate had been, but he had reason to believe that what did happen would be satisfactory for Britain, considering the naval force she had at her disposal. ' Reed. 10.5 p.m.) London, May 22. Military circles in Cairo point out that an exact estimate oi the situation in Crete is most difficult, because such things as lines of communication and rear and forward positions are practically non-existent. Staff headquarters are in the front line, and artillery units are fighting equally with infantry. "Every man for himself’’ is the order of the day, since parachutists have been dropping like confetti from clear skies, sometimes landing in the middle of our positions. New Zealanders. British, Greeks and Cretan hillsmen, however, have succeeded in keeping the situation well in hand.

An Air Ministry official in London disclosed that in view of the pronounced disadvantages under which our fighters were operating in Crete when the German attack was launched, the commanders on the spot decided to withdraw the remaining fighters because otherwise they would waste the Air .-’oree personnel involved. Poorly Off For Air Fields. The official pointed out that Crete is ill-provided with aerodromes and is situated close to the Greek and Italian islands and also close to the Greek mainland, where there is a large con- 1 centration of German planes. The dis-1 tance of Crete from our aerodromes in ! Egypt precluded the possibility of j strong air support by the R.A.F. Ex- ’ pctience had already proved that it j was impossible to develop satisfactory I fighter defence from a few compara-: lively ill-equipped aerodromes if these are subjected to heavy air at-j tack fne Times in a leader, says the most disturbing item in Mr. j Churchill’s statement (wirelessed to-1 da;. ) was t hat our troops in Crete ! were once ay fin fighting unsupported; Iran the air for lack of aerodromes.: Nevertheless, the defence was undoubtedly putting on a magnificent resistance. Enemy losses were very | heavy but the Germans can afford | considerable losses and Crete is a | prize worth sacrifices. While enemy; artillery and tanks can be kept out, ’ there is room for hope that the! valour of the garrison will prevail in | the ferocious struggle. Official German Silence. The German news agency- says I there is official German silence re- j garding the air attack, which is; unique as the first major military i operation undertaken by the German! High Command without official fanfare. The news agency adds thatl the general opinion in Berlin is that! the phraseology' of the British mill-! tary reports suggests that Britain is preparing for an eventual military'l failure in Crete. Smoke Bombs Used. The Daily Telegraph says that! many Germans landed in Crete to-day; under cover of the smoke-bombs previously dropped from dive-bombers to I blind the defenders. Despite this| screen many paratroops were shot ■ dead as they dropped.—U.P.A.

Courageous Defenders. Yesterday further waves of German parachuters and air-borne troops continued to land at various points in Crete throughout the day. British and New Zealand troops, assisted by Greeks and Cretans, all rendered a magnificent account of themselves. Fighting with splendid courage and dash, our Empire forces with their gallant allies delivered three successful counter-attacks. The enemy losses yesterday were even heavier than before, and by nightfall the situation was satisfactory in every area except at Maleme where the enemy has secured a temporary footing. Organisations to deal with this situation are now in progress. Enemy landings by air are continuing. but as a result of determined action by the Royal Navy, attempts by the Germans to support their airborne troops by landings from the sea have so far been unsuccessful, as convoys have been dispersed or sunk. The spirit of the defenders of Crete is higher than ever