THE EMPIRE'S WAR ACTIVITIES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 307, 19 May 1941, Page 6

THE EMPIRE'S WAR ACTIVITIES

A NOTE ON CRETE 60 MILES FROM MAINLAND EXCELLENT NAVAL HARBOUR The island )f Crcto, to which tlio Britis'h forces removed from Greece were taken, including the New Ze*alanders, lies south-east of Greece, unci north of Cyrcnaicn. It is about i'j(> miles from the Greek mainland, 1(H) miles from the coast of Africa, and between it and Asia Minor, over 100 miles away, lie the Dodescanesc Islands, where the Italian flag (lies. Crete is Greek territory, and tho Greek Government is now quartered there, The island \s about IGOi miles from cast to Avest, and varies in breadth from S to 35 miles. Tt is mostly mountainous; most of the higher land carries snow for the greater part of the year. The prewar population was about 1550,000. The three principal towns.—Candia, the former capital; Canes, the present seat of government, and Retima, are all cn the north coast, And have harbours which can take ships,-of light draught. There are no useful harbours on the south coas,t. One of the- larger indentations' on the north coast is Suda Bay,, just east of Candia. This is a magnificent natural harbour, well enclosed bj r a small peninsula which embraces it on the east and north, and is the only completely sheltered anchorage for large vessels. It is now a British naval base.