Mr Churchill on Battle of Crete

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 May 1941, Page 6

Mr Churchill on Battle of Crete

Intense and Continuous Enemy Dive-Bombing MAGNIFICENT RESISTANCE OF BRITISH AND IMPERIAL FORCES ACHIEVEMENTS THAT WILL LIVE IN HISTORY (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Dav, 11.18 a.m.) RUGBY, May 27. In a statement in the House of Commons on the war situation, Mr Churchill, speaking - of the Battle of Crete, said: “It has now lasted for a week. Dpring a whole week, British and Imperial troops have been subjected to an intense and continuous scale of air attack, against vzhich the R.A.F. has only been able to make a very limited counter-attack, because of geographical conditions. The fighting has been most severe, although the enemy’s losses up to the present have been much the heavier. Airborne reinforcements to the enemy could not have been prevented and his attack has grown from day to day. “The battle has swayed backwards and forwards with indescribable fury at Canea, but on a smaller scale at Retimo and Heraclion,” After referring to reinforcements of men and supplies which he said had reached and were continuing to reach General Freyberg’s forces, Mr Churchill continued: “At the moment at which I am speaking, the issue of this very magnificent resistance hangs in the balance. So far, the Navy has prevented any landing of a seaborne expedition, although a few small shiploads of troops in Greek caiques may have slipped through.' Very heavy losses have been inflicted by our submarines, cruisers and destroyers upon transports and these small Greek ships, but it is not possible to state with accuracy hew many thousands of the enemy treops have been drowned. Their losses have been very heavy.’’ After referring to British naval losses, Mr Churchill said: “However the position of the battle may go, the stubborn defence of Crete, one of the important outposts of Egypt, will always rank high in the military and naval annals of the British Empire.’’ Turning to other theatres, Mr Churchill continued: “In Iraq, our position has been largely re-established and our prospects have greatly improved. There have been no further adverse developments in Syria. In Abyssinia, the daily Italian surrender continues, many thousands of prisoners and masses of equipment being taken.’’