ESCAPES FROM GREECE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 May 1941, Page 5

ESCAPES FROM GREECE

ADVENTURES OF NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS Boats Obtained at Fishing Port VOYAGE UNDERTAKEN TO CRETE PARTY PICKED UP BY BRITISH-DESTROYER (N.Z.E.F. Official News Service)- CAI KO, Altiy 6. The courageous leadership and determination displayed by small parties of New Zealanders that, escaped successfully iront Greek beaches where the Nazis were in control before the evacuation was complete will fill the hearts of those at home with pride in the resourcefulness and daring of their soldiers. Though the on-anised withdrawals from the Greek shore were a triumph, it is only natural that they should be overshadowed lor sheer drama bv the adventures of little groups of men who relused to surrender and, after hair-breadth escapes, were picked up by the ever-vigilant Navy from small boats. _

REFUSAL TO SURRENDER “We were waiting in the bush for nightfall when we heard the sound of an engine. It at first resembled that of another Nazi raider, but soon it could be distinguished as that of a truck. A sergeant and a corporal went out to investigate, and before them was a brand new German car in which stood an officer in blue uniform with a revolver in his hand,” said a machinegunner in relating the stirring experiences of one band of men. “ 'Throw down your arms!' cried the Nazi officer. One glance at him and the n.c.o.’s wheeled about and dived into a lane where the others were standing. Two revolver shots rang out, followed by bursts of machine-gun fire. The sergeant told them that the Nazis had broken through, and at the same time the German officer turned a tommy gun on them as he spied them in the lane. “Instead of surrendering, in less time than they realised they were in full flight, through vine fields, and bursting through cactus hedges unconscious of the sharp pain inflicted by the thorns. About half a mile away the little group collected together and found that they numbered 22, including three officers. FAITH IN THE NAVY “A decision was made to strike for the coast, and there followed a tortuous journey through vine fields, sneaking along hedges and diving into ditches as German machines flew overhead, and finally plunging through a thick swamp for two and a half hours with the water at times up to our waists. Always there was the thought in our minds that the Navy would not let us down.

“We reached the coast about a mile above a port to hear the sound of guns and to learn from the Greeks that the Germans were there. With the aid of an interpreter we learned of a fishing village some miles up the coast where we might be able to get a boat, and we had someone to show us the way. We discarded all our surplus gear and set out. As we drew near the village an officer and two men went ahead while the rest of us crouched under the lee of a shingle bank anxiously awaiting their return. "About half an hour later one of them returned to lead us silently to the shore, where we found three boats waiting. Only two of us knew anything about sailing, so those in the biggest boat led the way with the others keeping within hailing distance. - A sergeant who came from the Bluff, where he had worked on the oyster beds, took the tiller, setting his 'course by the stars. DAY SPENT IN HIDING ■ “Progress was laboured as the men were not used to using the heavy oars, and the largest boat lost contact with the other two. At about 3.30 a.m. we heard the hum of turbines and our spirits soared, so with the aid of a torch shielded by a steel helmet we endeavoured to attract attention by an SOS, but a thick mist lay over the bay and we were not successful. Dawn was now fast approaching, and we had to seek shelter as the Nazi planes would not hesitate to bomb and machine-gun us if we were found. “We set a course for land, and as day broke we stepped ashore, wet and weary; we beached our boats and concealed ourselves in shrub along the slopes of the bay, where we slept from sheer exhaustion. Soon, however, we were awakened by planes, and not long afterward another boat turned up containing six more New Zealanders who had escaped from a port controlled by the Huns. They had heard that the Huns had been driven out of the port, but we knew that they could bring up reinforcements so we did not decide to go back. “Never have I known so long a day to pass as we crouched there, hiding from the planes and the German troops that passed along the road above our • • hiding-place. During the afternoon peasants brought us food and water; their kindness was unbounded and, much as we appreciated it, we lived in constant dread that they would betray us as they came and went. ATTEMPT TO REACH CRETE “We decided to make an attempt to reach Crete, and the three boats set out again with makeshift sails and what food and water there was divided up, but the smaller ones forged ahead and were again lost. We carried on with the arrival of daylight, and as day drew on a burning sun shone from a cloudless sky on our open boat. Our spirits were high till about 9 a.m., when we heard an ominous drone in the sky. and all save the man at the tiller crouched in the bottom of the boat, hoping that we would be mistaken for a Greek fishing craft, as we were parallel to the coast about two miles out. “Luck was with us, as we heard him a little later bombing the bay behind us. How many more alarms we had * during the day I cannot recall, but no one came neat enough to spot us. About midday we were forced to take to the oars. Infantrymen, cavalry and machine-gunners, all strangers a few days before, were now discussing our chances of success, and cheering one another with good-natured chaff. The hours dragged on. but we never gave up hope, though the island we were

steering for never seemed to get any closer. Between the spells of rowing we dozed fitfully. The boat was leaking, and we had to bale frequently. DESTROYERS SIGHTED “Shortly after 11 p.m.. our dull senses were aroused to alert wakefulness by the hum of turbines, and we rested on our oars listening as the craft came nearer. In about 10' minutes we could make out the shapes of three destroyers ploughing toward us. We had no doubt.as to what flag they flew; only one Navy was in these waters. “We used our flash-lamp with renewed hope, and the destroyers circled round, ever getting nearer, a manoeuvre which we found out later was employed to make sure we were not a decoy. They were taking no risks, too, for their guns were trained on us. As we heard a hearty British hail, we were safe at last, and we scrambled up the netting on the side of the nearest destroyer and were soon drinking scalding hot cocoa and seeing the smiling faces of the sailors, who could not do enough for us. “A little later our rescuer went in toward land and picked up another 200 men, but as dawn arrived she was forced to give up the search and head for port. We can never feel thankful enough to the marvellous British Navy, which more than justified all the faith we had in it,” the machine-gunner concluded. The survivors of another party of New Zealanders were picked up by the Navy after a small Greek brig on ' which they had hoped to escape had been bombed by the Nazis and set on! fire from stem to stern. FAREWELL TO ATHENS FLOWERS SHOWERED ON TROOPS. TOUCHING TRIBUTE PAID BY PEOPLE. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright! CAIRO, May 6. New Zealand troops who made a daylight withdrawal through the streets of Athens tell a moving story about the farewell given them by the Greek people. 1 As the convoy entered the city crowds were seen to be lining the streets. Taking no chances, Bren guns were prepared for action, as false tales had been spread about the Greek collapse. When the crowds began to shower the New Zealanders with flowers and to cheer them it was too much for some of our boys.

With tears running down their cheeks, they drove through cheering crowds who paid their respects to the heroes who had tried to save them from conquest at Olympus and Thermopylae.

CRETE AS BASE FOR RECOVERY OF GREEK FREEDOM. MAJOR-GENERAL FREYBERG'S ORDER OF THE DAY. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) CANE A (Crete), May 7. Major-General Freyberg issued the following order of the day. “By the united efforts of the Allied military forces in addition to the civilians, we not only will maintain the integrity of Crete against any invader but in time, by God’s grace, will advance from this base and restore freedom and independence to the whole of Greece.” TRIBUTE TO TROOPS MESSAGE FROM LORD BLEDISLOE .(By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. In a message to the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser. Lord Bledisloe, formerly Governor-General of New Zealand, says:— “I desire to express to you and the New Zealand nation my profound admiration of the heroic steadfastness of the New Zealand troops in Greece and my sympathy with the relations of those who have lost their lives in fighting for the freedom of the world. I am proud of your country and its great people of both races.”