OF WAR AND MERCHANT SHIPS LEAVING CRETE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 June 1941, Page 5

OF WAR AND MERCHANT SHIPS LEAVING CRETE

R.A.F. and South African Planes Repel Enemy Aircraft BRITISH BOMBERS ATTACK GERMAN BASES GENERAL FREYBERG’S MESSAGE TO PEOPLE OF ISLAND LONDON, .June 2. The R.A.F. and South African Air Force maintained patrols in assisting the evacuation from Crete, Large formations of fighter aircraft provided protective patrols throughout yesteriday for warships and merchant ships engaged in the evacua- / tion. Enemy aircraft were repeatedly intercepted and many ■7 were compelled to retire before they could attack. Heavy bombers made further attacks on enemy aerodromes in Crete. Four German planes were destroyed at Malemi and a number of others at another aerodrome. British planes also dropped medical supplies and food for isolated groups of soldiers in Crete. A message has been sent to the people of Crete by MajorGeneral Freyberg, commander of the Allied forces in Crete, expressing the admiration of the British and Imperial forces of the courage, heroism and morale of the Crete people, whose conduct had been really magnificent. Marshal Goering has issued an order of the day to German soldiers in Crete, stating: “You have proved to all the world the words of the Fuehrer, ‘There are no unattainable islands’.’’