FIGHTING IN CRETE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 May 1941, Page 6

FIGHTING IN CRETE

SOME OF THE FIERCEST IN HISTORY NAVAL PETTY OFFICER’S STORY. ESCAPE AFTER BEING CAPTURED. ißy Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.15 p.m.) ALEXANDRIA. May 28. The Australian official war correspondent gives the latest news of the Anzacs in Crete, quoting a petty officer of the Fleet Air Arm. who was captured by the Germans at Malemi airport, only to escape and finally to be returned to Alexandria. The petty officer said: “Some of the fiercest fighting in history is going on in Crete. When the parachutists got control of the aerodrome, a member of the ground staff and myself sheltered in a trench. The Germans got close enough to throw grenades and, unarmed, we sheltered beneath the bodies of our own dead. They had fought it right out. Soon afterwards, the Germans captured us. They then took us to their commanding officer, who told us to go across the aerodrome, carrying red flags demanding the surrender of the British and Anzac troops. We were under cover of their tommy guns as we went forward. When we were halfway across the aerodrome, I shouted to my pal to run like hell. We had only got a few yards when I saw him fall. I shouted that I was English and fell among our chaps. They were marines and nearby were teams of New Zealand and Australian Bren-gunners. They were putting in a terrific fire. Then came an order to get back with the wounded to Canea.” GERMAN REPORT CAPTURE OF CANEA CLAIMED. (Received This Day, 12.15 p.m.) LONDON, May 28. ■ A German communique states: “Operations in Crete are proceeding welb We have broken the stubborn resistance of the enemy, thrown them out from positions and captured Canea. We are now pursuing the enemy southwards from Suda Bay. Many prisoners include the commander-in-chief of the Greek naval forces in Crete. Our Stukas frustrated British attempts to withdraw by sea.” R.S.A. CABLEGRAM FORWARDED TO GENERAL FREYBERG. WELLINGTON, This Day. The annual conference of the New Zealand R.S.A. unanimously agreed that the following cable should be forwarded to Major-General Freyberg, commander of the Allied forces in Crete: “Annual general meeting New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association confident of issue of battle. Watches with pride and admiration superb valour of all troops, under your command. Fight on—Perry, president.”