IN FIERCE FIGHTING IN CRETE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 May 1941, Page 5

IN FIERCE FIGHTING IN CRETE

Suda Bay Now in German Hands WITH DAMAGED BRITISH CRUISER YORK HEAVY CASUALTIES ON BOTH SIDES LONDON, Muy 29. Fierce hand-to-hand fighting is still going on in Crete, where the British forces have withdrawn to positions east oi Suda Bay, in the face of further attacks by the Germans, wio have again been heavily reinforced. Enemy dive bombing continues on an extensive scale. In hand-to-,hand fighting both the enemy and our troops hjive suffered heavily. A spokesman in Cairo said attacks,and counter-attacks Had ended by our troops being pushed back by sheer weight of numbers. Heavy fighting was still in progress and the position was changing all the time. Canea had been abandoned. The Germans claim to have occupied Heraclion but there is no confirmation of this. The position at Retimo is unchanged. The Navy has still prevented the Germans from landing any appreciable number of troops by sea. The Admiralty announces the loss of the 8,000-ton cruiser York, which was beingrepaired at Suda Bay at the time of the German invasion. Sne was repeatedly bombed and must now be regarded as a total loss. The only casualties on the ship were two killed and five wounded. An R.A.F. communique issued, from Cairo states tnat. a heavy attack was carried out against concentrations of German troops on the beaches of Crete and on the aerodrome at Malemi. More than 100 enemy aircraft on beaches were successfully attacked. Several fires were started among the planes and a number of explosions were caused.