NAVY’S PART

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 May 1941, Page 6

NAVY’S PART

NO ENEMY LANDINGS IN FORCE GERMANS SUFFER HEAVY LOSSES. SURVIVORS FROM LOST WARSHIPS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.5 a.m.) RUGBY, May 27. An Admiralty communique states: “British naval operations in the Eastern Mediterranean have prevented any enemy seaborne landings in force in Crete to date and have inflicted heavy loss on laden enemy, (transports endeavouring to reach the island. “In addition to the two troop convoys already announced as having been broken up by our forces, with heavy loss to the enemy, one of our submarines has sunk by gunfire two caiques full of German soldiers. Further details are still awaited. Two enemy E-boats have been sunk and two others damaged in these operations, and it is known that a number of German aircraft were shot down by our ships. Detailed reports of these have not yet been received. Operations of this type, in confined waters and without fighter protection against the very large air forces employed by the enemy, cannot be undertaken without loss. "It is already known that the following numbers of survivors from the ships lost have been landed:— "Thirty-four officers and 500 men from the Fiji. “Eight officers and 120 men from the Kelly. "Nine officers and 150 men from the Kashmir. “Six officers and 98 men from the Juno. “Three officers and 88 men from the Greyhound. "It is regretted that no news is yet available of survivors from the Gloucester, but since tho Gloucester sank not far from the Greek mainland and it is known that ample boats and rafts were available, it is hoped that many of .Iter company survived.”