ANKARA REPORTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 May 1941, Page 6

ANKARA REPORTS

REGARDING FIGHTING IN CRETE CHALLENGED IN LONDON. NO “STREAM” OF BRITISH , REINFORCEMENTS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, Noon.) LONDON. May 29. It is authoritatively stated in London that reports from Ankara that a stream of British reinforcements is reaching Crete are misleading. There is no justi- ; fication for the use of the word “stream.” “If we lost Canea,” it was added, “the position would be more serious. If we lost Suda Bay, it would be even more critical.” (A retirement by the British forces to positions east of Suda Bay and the abandonment of Canea are reported.) The Berlin news agency claimed that the Germans had occupied the town, harbour and aerodrome of Canea and captured several hundred British prisoners. An Italian communique announces that Italian troops landed in Crete yesterday. Signor Gayda said Italian marines and infantry had landed in Eastern Crete, creating a new front against the British, while German pressure was increasing. GERMAN CLAIMS (Received This Dav. 11.55 a.m.) LONDON, May 29. A Berlin communique claims that German aeroplane troops have reached ' Armyro Bay, taking a large number of 1 prisoners, and that the enemy has been ' cleared from Suda Bay.

y LOSS OF THE YORK g ?r • ’* CRUISER DAMAGED SOME TIME AGO. ° SINCE REPEATEDLY BOMBED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, May 29. An Admiralty communique states that H.M.S. York was damaged some time ago and was under repair at Suda Bay when the battle for Crete began. The ship has since been repeatedly bombed and the Admiralty regrets that it must be regarded as a total loss. The ; only casualties reported are two killed, and five wounded. I» I . SEVERE’ FIGHTING ENEMY TROOPS HEAVILY REINFORCED. THE LOSS OF SUDA BAY. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, May 29. . Heavy German reinforcements and severe hand-to-hand fighting are reported in a communique issued by British General Headquarters in Cairo, which states: “In Crete, in face of further attacks by German forces, which have again been heavily reinforced, our troops have withdrawn to posi- 1 tions east of Suda Bay. Dive-bombing 1 has again been continued on an exten- 1 sive scale. •In hand-to-hand fighting 1 yesterday both the enemy and our for- ( ces suffered heavily. ( “In Libya, during the night of May 1 27, our troops in Tobruk made a small c advance to improved positions and in- r dieted casualties on the enemy without I loss to themselves. In the Solium area t our patrols continue vigorously to har- I ass the enemy, who has not attempted c to make any further advance from positions covering Halfaya.” ;