ENEMY ATTACK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 May 1941, Page 5

ENEMY ATTACK

FOLLOWING ON ARRIVAL OF REINFORCEMENTS SEVERE FIGHTING WEST OF CANEA. NEW ZEALANDERS ENGAGED. (British Official Wireless. • (Received This Day. 9.35 a.m.) RUGBY. May 26. A Cairo communique states: "There is no change in the situation at Heraclion and Retimo, in Crete. In the Malemi area, following upon the arrival of additional airborne reinforcements the Germans, under cover of an intensive air bombardment, delivered a strong attack against our troops west of Canea. Although the enemy again sustained heavy casualties, a penetration of our positions was made. The Now Zealand forces delivered a coun-ter-attack and severe lighting is continuing. LAST STAGE BRITISH GENERAL’S VIEW. POSSIBLE TO HOLD CRETE. LONDON, May 25. Major-General T. G. G. Heywood, head of the British military mission to Crete, who returned to Cairo today, said: "I think it will be possible to hold Crete. British and Dominion troops and marines fight well in this type ol hand-to-hand lighting.’' The withdrawal from Greece and the fighting in Crete were part of the same action, he said. In view of the difficulties experienced by the Germans in obtaining reinforcements, he had every hope that the British forces had reached the last stage of the fighting, and he added that they should hold out.

pany of parachutists estimated at 150 to 200 came down in the area where the King had been the day before. It was an extraordinary sight. Their parachutes were red or green, and we saw through our glasses the French chalk in which they were packed popping off as the parachutes came out of the containers. FIRING IN ALL DIRECTIONS. "The nearest parachutists were about 800 yards away. We saw a number of parachutes which did not open and let the men fall straight to the ground. There was a great deal of machinegunning from the planes, and also firing in all directions from our antiaircraft guns and troops. "We decided it was no use staying, as our house would obviously be attacked as a useful observation post. "With difficulty, due to the low-fly-ing planes, we collected our party. The whole thing happened so quickly that we couldn't get transport, and we took to the hills literally with what we could carry in our hands. We saw an-; other flight of parachutes come down on our road, and for this reason we had to climb a 1501' feet hill in great heat. "Every five or 10 yards we had to take cover, as hundreds of planes were whizzing about in every direction. Everyone had to lie down. Prince Peter said he could see the faces of the rear gunners in the planes.” NAZI ATTACKS DESCRIBED. Graphically describing their adventures before leaving Crete, General Heywood said, "The Germans on May 18 launched increasingly heavy air attacks on the aerodromes at Candia. Retimo and Malerni and on the shipping and installations in Suda Bay. Their attacks were very heavy on May 19, and they severely bombed a hospital, killing three doctors and several of the patients. "More heavy bombings occurred early on May 20. At 8 a.m. crowds of parachutists came down in the area south-west of Canea. There were swarms of the parachutists, and as well troop-carriers and gliders landed to the north of Canea and tried to land at Malerni. The landing of parachutists went on steadily till noon, with continual machine-gunning of the towns and olive groves and with dogfights wherever the parachutists were being landed. Fortunately, the King had left his house south-west of Canea on the night before and went to the house of the Prime Minister at Perivolia.”

Colonel Blunt explained that everyone was nervous of Germans in British or Greek uniforms, and therefore parties indulged in much shouting before meeting, each thinking the others were parachutists. After climbing the ridges the Royal party at noon arrived at a cave occupied by a certain shepherd family beside a little spring. They sheltered there until 3 p.m., when they continued' their journey to Panagya. EMBARKATION ARRANGED. From there Coionci Blunt tried to make contact with Canea. but the situation was so confused with much fighting that he was compelled to abandon the attempt. Colonel Blunt eventually made contact with Suda Bay by telephone, and arranged for the embarkation of the King on Thursday night. There were pathetic scenes when the Royal party reached the south coast. Women, recognising the King, knelt and kissed his hand before they embarked. Lady Palairet cooked for the party throughout the journey. General Heywood revealed that the Germans released a thousand civil prisoners in Crete, but instead of fighting for the Germans, they fought against them. The Cairo correspondent of the British United Press says that during his escape King George climbed under a broiling sun mountains over 7000 feet high. Clad in ordinary clothes and wearing a tin hat. the King cheerfully clambered up the mountainsides! In spite of his shoes being anything but suitable for such work the King did not show lhe slightest signs of distress. Ho rod.? the last few miles on a mule. During the three days before he left the island iho King lived on sheeps and goal's milk and cheese.

Soon after the parly 101 l the house near Nacca the Germans look it. Tin 1 New Zealand escort fired on the pursuing Germans at only 100 yards' range.