MASS EXECUTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 May 1941, Page 5

MASS EXECUTION

DESTRUCTION OF ENEMY CONVOY NAVAL CAPTAIN’S STORY. THOUSANDS OF GERMANS PERISH. LONDON. May 24. How the Navy in a three-hour battle smashed the first of the two German attempts at a sea-borne invasion of Crete has now been related by a captain of a cruiser. “It was mass execution,” he said. “The whole convoy, which included two merchantmen packed with troops and war supplies, was destroyed. We sank them with our 4-inch guns and pom-poms, and our cruisers and destroyers rammed them. “The sea was full of thousands of Germans clinging to wreckage and shouting for help, but the possibility _ of E-boats catching us at a disadvantage did not permit rescue of the survivors. It is estimated that between 5000 and 6000 men perished. “It was impossible to estimate the strength of the convoy, but it is believed it consisted of about 40 small boats, each carrying 100 soldiers, and small merchantmen escorted by a single Italian destroyer. ATTACK IN DARKNESS. “A mighty British naval force met them in pitch darkness at 11.30 on the night of May 21. Our destroyer screen opened fire on a darkened ship which was the first intimation that we were in contact with the enemy. The fire was very effective and the merchantman was soon burning from stem to stern. “Another cruiser got a clear sight of the Italian destroyer, against which it launched the full G-inch gun broadside. A violent explosion occurred on the destroyer, and her end seemed inevitable. She launched five torpedoes, but never fired a gun during Ihe engagement. “The Admiral then led the squadron through what appeared to be the middle of the convoy, and a largo number of small Greek boats were sunk by ramming. Our main armament also sank a small steamer. Some of the small boats tried to evade attack by hiding the soldiers below decks and flying the Greek flag, but others retaliated with rifle and machine-gun fire. “We continued our sweep northward till no more boats were visible." Another officer said: “It was destruction on the grand scale, unparalleled in this war. It made one realise the utter futility of the German conception of war as the helpless soldiery went down to their deaths.” It is revealed that the cruiser Ajax, of River Plate fame, took part in the smashing of the German convoy.