Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, MAY 24, 1941. “A DESPERATE GRIM BATTLE.”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 May 1941, Page 4

Wairarapa Times-Age SATURDAY, MAY 24, 1941. “A DESPERATE GRIM BATTLE.”

ALTHOUGH the denial by a Berlin spokesman that the

Germans have suffered heavy losses in Crete is manifestly .false, it is clear enough that a. victorious defence of the island is not yet to be taken for granted. The British commander-in-chief in the island. Major-General FTeyberg, V.C.. did not mince matters in the report, quoted in one of yesterday’s cablegrams, in which, having said: “Our troops are fighting superbly,” he added: “We are being pressed hard. Much depends on the next few hours.” As Air Churchill pointed out in what he had to say in. ther House of Commons about what he called “a desperate, grim battle, which will affect the whole course of the campaign in the'Mediterranean,” there are remarkable advantages ami disadvantages on either side. It must heavily handicap I he defenders that British fighter aircraft have been compelled to withdraw from Crete, but against that there is the fact that the enemy, at the stage to which information is carried, has little if anv artillery or tanks.

Everything may depend upon the ability of the Navy to maintain its initial success in destroying or dispersing enemy sea. convoys endeavouring to reach the island. Any foothold the enemy has meantime gained appears to be limited and precarious. It must, however, be a difficult task to (dose and keep closed to the enemy the narrow stretch of sea by which Crete is divided from mainland Greece and if the Germans are once, able to introduce guns and other heavy material by sea. they will have taken the first step towards building up an ultimately over-whelming force. As news stands, however, their efforts to use the narrow sea passage have failed completely and while that state of affairs continues there should be good hopes of maintaining the defence of tin' island in spite, of all that masses of dive-bombers and troop carriers can accomplish.

The latest news in hand at time of writing bears witness to a magnificent achievement by both Hie land and sea forces defending Crete. Thanks to the valiant efforts of the Navy and its constant watch and ward, every attempt on the enemy’s part to land men and material from the sea lias been defeated during a period of three days and nights, ft improves the outlook in this respect that the places in Crete at which landings from the sea are practicable are few in number and restricted in the facilities tliev offer.

Our land forces meantime have disposed of the enemy airborne troops at two of the three places they had occupied— Iferaclion (Candia) and Retimo. The Germans are being attacked vigorously at Malemi, west of Canea. though there they have been reinforced by air.

The immensely important issues at stake are plainly emphasised. With Crete in the hands of the Allies, there is a formidable threat to the Axis bases and communications in Greece, the Grecian Archipelago and Asia, Minor. On the other hand, possession of Crete would immensely strengthen and safeguard the enemy hold on the Aegean Sea and facilitate his projects of southward aggression.

Even with Crete in his hands, the enemy would have to reckon with the British armies in Egypt, Palestine and Iraq and with British seapower in the Mediterranean. The Suez Canal and the Nile Delta would still lie covered with a wide margin by powerfid forces defending both practicable lines of land approach and with open lines of supply by way of the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. The importance of Crete in hampering and cheeking the enemy’s offensive action very fully warrants, however, the heroic efforts that are being made to hold and defend the island in face of enormous odds.

BICKERING THAT NAUSEATES.

DEALING in his addresses at Auckland with many aspects

ol the unexampled crisis by-which the British nation is now confronted, the Australian Prime Minister. Air 11. (I. Menzies, was not least impressive in what he had to say about the imperative need for political unity. nauseated him more, he. told his audience at a civic, reception in the northern city yesterday, than to find that even at this supreme crisis in our history some people were determined to have their miserable little political bickerings.

The applause with which this declaration was greeted no doubt indicates accurately the sentiment and outlook of an overwhelming proportion of the people of'New Zealand. Unfortunately, however, we still have in this country an assertion ol political divisions and a certain amount of political bickering goes on, although it is subdried and in the extent to which it is noticed awakens disgust rather Ilian interest. The way of escape from this state of affairs is in a union of all political forces in an agreement to concentrate on which is essential and to set aside or subordinate, in this time of overshadowing crisis and emergency, all that is non-essential or of secondary importance.

AVliat is needed is not some sort of halting, standstill agreement between parties—an agreement hedged about with reservations—-bill a loyal-hearted union, of effort on behalf of our nation in its danger and in its fight for life and for all that makes life worth living. If our. politicians would but get together, not in a negative attempt to compose their differences, but with a positive determination to do their duty, as the members ol our fighting forces have done and arc doing' their dnfv on land and sea and in the air. all obstacles to the const it lit ion of a genuinely National Government would vanish. Is if too much to ask of oui; polit ieians I hat t hey should prove 1 hemselves equal Io this measure of initiative and of self-siibordinalion at a lime when a supreme effort visibly is demanded of our nation and its defenders in order that defeat may be averted and the way paved io ultimate victory: 1