EVACUATION OF THE FORCES FROM CRETE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 June 1941, Page 5

EVACUATION OF THE FORCES FROM CRETE

British Ships Defy Storm of Dive-Bombing SOLDIERS WITH BREN-GUNS ASSIST IN REPELLING PLANES GALLANT PART TAKEN BY FAMOUS CRUISERS LONDON, -Line 3. British warships stood up to a terrific air attack for four days and nights during the evacuation of the forces from Crete. Among the ships engaged were the Australian cruise’’ Perth anc • '’he cruiser Orion, both of which took part in the Battle of Gape v Matapan. The Perth was bombed without respite for seven hours on one day and for 13 hours on another. The non more than once was attacked by 100 planes at a time. The evacuation began on May 28, when destroyers came in close under cover of darkness and conveyed 4,000 troops to cruisers some miles out. At dawn the dive-bombers oegan their attack and came so low as almost to hit the rigging of the warships. Bren guns and machine guns wrought havoc among the planes, which continued the attack until the ships were within 100 miles of Alexandria. Exhausted though they were, soldiers gallantly helped in the defence of the warships by setting up Bren guns and firing at the planes.