“POSSIBLE MISTAKE”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 May 1941, Page 5

“POSSIBLE MISTAKE”

ALLEGED BY GERMANS USE OF KHAKI UNIFORMS. VITAL IMPORTANCE OF Affi STRENGTH. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright, LONDON. May 20. The 8.8. C. broadcast tonight in German: “Every German soldier must know that whoever, in violation of international law, fights in enemy uniform, must expect to be shot immediately when taken prisoner.” The “Daily Telegraph’s” military correspondent 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, and therefore do not merit treatment as prisoners of war. In Berlin today officials said that if it was true that German parachutists landed in Crete, Mr Churchill’s assertion that they wore New Zealand uniforms is absolutely false. It was added that the German parachutists were recently equipped with khaki uniforms similar to those of the German troops in Africa for use in tropical climates, “so a mistake might have been made.” "Provided we can get enough fighters to the scene to take care of the enemy fighters, troop-carriers, and dive-bombers simultaneously, our chances of beating off the invasion of Crete are good," says the "Daily Mail.” “For the first time the Germans have launched air-borne troops without sea or 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 the landing grounds in Crete, which are not more than three, R.A.F. reinforcements can be flown from Egypt. “The Battle of Crete is really the dive-bombers’ challenge to our Mediterranean sea power.”