HELL OVER THERE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 June 1941, Page 6

HELL OVER THERE

STORIES OF TROOPS BACK FROM CRETE WEARY BUT INDOMITABLE. EVERY MAN PROUD OF NAVY. I By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (N.Z.E.F. Official News Service.) CAIRO, June 4. Every successive day brings mere troops from Crete. With that pur.ciillious regularity which one has come to expect of the Navy, ships of war come slipping into harbour, their decks crammed with weary soldiers snatched from the holocaust of that bombed and strafed island where they fought so magnificently in face of such heavy odds. As the ships edge cautiously towards the docksides, the troops crowd the taffrails. They are mainly silent, but nc.w and then, along the long line, comes a ready quip l or jest which sets off a sudden roar of laughter. No German dive-bomber could kill or stifle that wonderful sense of humour which these boys call to their aid in no matter what extremity. From the shores of Crete to the very coastal waters of this country they have been subjected to steady and unabating attacks from the air. ••They followed us all the way across." one lad said. -They were in batches of at least forty, and would dive straight into and through the barrage. God knows how they did it. They must be mad.” Most of the ships brought New Zealanders. Sometimes they were in small parties of just.a few men who had been separated from their units. In other cases, however, they arrived in large numbers. representing ‘ practically every unit in the Division. All of them are glad of the opportunity for a rest, and all are cheerful and confident that, with proper air support, they could -knock Jerry back anywhere.” "It has been hell over there." said one New Zealand soldier, ."but our boys have done wonders." "Greece was a picnic compared to Crete," said another. HELPFUL SEAMEN. For many of them it has been continuous duty, on the alert all the time. As the troops filed off the gangways on to the wharves, seamen everywhere were doing what they could to assist, sometimes almost carrying the walking wounded to waiting transport. Weary as they were, the soldiers showed their appreciation. "Three cheers for the Navy!" and up would go a roaring tribute to the Senior Service, whose watchfulness, grimness and tireless energy made the evacuation possible.

Many were the souvenirs brought by the men of the forces from Crete. Some of them—like German parachutists' tommy-guns—have been taken for a far grimmer purpose than that of the souvenir-hunter and have been used to the great discomfort of their former owners. Many of the men wore parachutists' helmets, which are something like the usual German steel helmet, with the difference that they have no side protection for the temples and cheeks. Others had around their waists parachutists’ belts. These are of strong leather and fastened by a plated clasp, (.n which there is an insignia showing an eagle in flight, carrying in his talons a Nazi swastika. It is reported that a New Zealand machine-gun battalion captured so many tommy-guns they were able to make up their own deficiencies and more. REARGUARD BATTLES. It is stated that New Zealanders, Australians and a famous British unit have been taking the fighting of the rearguard action in turns. All of them have been fighting hard, without a break, since the main action began over ten days ago, but they have been taking a deadly toll of the enemy. Many New Zealanders say that, apart from the first days in Crete, they have been going at it hammer and tongs' since they first met the Germans at Servia, in Northern Greece. During all that time they have had little opportunity for sleep. When they could snatch a few moments they just managed to settle down when over would come the German and away they would go again. “They came in hundreds, but it seemed like thousands to us," remarked one lad, referring to the unrelenting stream of bombers and fighters which swept down like hordes of locusts. Darkness would bring an opportunity to recapture positions which the Germans had taken at great cost during the day, but the following day would in many cases make them againuntenable. Thus the battle would sway to and fro without respite, and with thousands more of fresh reinforcements arriving to strengthen the enemy in his furious drive to the south, while from above, from dawn to dark, all hell seemed let loose.

"Every man of us is proud of the Navy," said a New Zealander on arrival. “The way they treated us-—on land during the evacuation and aboard ship —was out on its own. Nothing was too much trouble. They supplied us with cigarettes and with everything we needed, just the same as in the Greek show. We can never thank the Navy enough.” The past month or two has been a busy and tiring time for the men in blue and white. Twice, in quick succession. they have been called upon to take on a huge and exacting task of evacuation, and each time they have done the job cheerfully and thoroughly. Tn all that time they have acquitted themselves magnificently.