The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-05-20


 of tn ewar. (Some estimates put Che number of British-Gr de- Tending troops on Crete at 5000 to 60,OO0 men).
 The German attack began after several days of increasingly severe air bombardment of Crete bases and air fields, especially Suda Bay from which British warships were under stood to be operating.
 Reliable reports were that the NaM offensive was in great strength" and neither the British communique nor other adyices said anything more encouraging than that the defenders were offering stern resistance.
 The Nazi troops may have been transported both from Greek bases and from the Italian Dodecanese Islands, which are only about 50 miles east of Crete.
 British dispatches made no men, ton of any German water attack on Crete, which is the seat of the Greek government since its flight from Athens. British warships were understood to be guarding the water approaches to the island and noril- ally would be in a position to smash any surface craft that either the Germans or the Italians might put into action.
 Water thrusts at the island pre- sumably would be delayed until and If the air-d -drome forces could gain a toothold.
 Tn many ways the parachute at- tack on Crete would be g dress re- hearsal for the long anticipated Ger man attempt to invade England, except that the over-water flight would be only 19 miles at the nar- gowest part of the English Channel and the European coast would pro- vide many more al bases for oper- Ntions of the Luftwaffe.
 Crete of Importance
 Crete is of great strategic import @nce as naval base in the eastern Mediterranean, lying adjacent to the Axis pathway to Syria and also bar ring the route across the Mediter- ranean from Greece toward the Euez Canal.
 The British had made prepara- tons to defend 1t to the end with naval forces, airplaneS and coastal artillery. Both Greek and British troops evacuated from the Balkans battieflelds were on the island.
 (Berlin reported that 0 British cruiser of the 8.250-ton York class had been set afire and l2 British fighter planes had been destroyed fin heavy LuftWaffe attacks on Crete, especially Suda Bay)
 Major General Bernard c. Frey berg E in command of British, New Zealand and Greek forces on Crete. The main British base is at Suda Bay which has been attacked fre- quently by the German air force. It was believed that in addition to British and New Zealand forces, the island was protected by con- siderable numbers of Greek troops, including some who evacuated the Greek mainland at the time of the German victory.
 Crete has an area of 2,950 square miles and its noraml population is 33e,0O0. Its greatest length is 140 miles and It's greatest width is 40 miles.
 The Suda Bay area is 75 miles from the Greek mainland and It's easternmost extremity is 50 miles from the Italian Dodecanese 1s- h: as.
 Ea,.ish experts have previously consiG red the tiny but strategically important island of Crete as prac- tically iinpregnable to attack.
 Prime Minister Winston Churchill recently emphasized in the House of Commons the vital importance of holding the island and 1t was said here that the battle would be s'to the last man" If necessary.
 British authorities said that the attack on Crete was regarded in some respects as full dress re- hearsal for the Battle of Britain, but they pointed out that 1t was a great deal more important in the struggle for domination of the eastern Mediterranean.
 The importance of Crete was irl- tensified by the swing of war to the Near East, since the island is now a vital part of the defenses of Suez against pincers attacks from Syria and Libya.
 The Germans probably must con. trol Crete if they are to establish strong supply lines to Syria and 1raq.
 Major General Bernard 0. Frey berg, commanding British, New Zealand and Greek forces on Crete, is 6 picturesque figure. He almost succeeded in swimming the English Channel in 1925. He was wounded nine times in the World War and won the Victoria Cross at Beau mont-Hamel in 1916 for brilliant leadership as e battalion com mander.
 He also won the distinguished service order at Gallipoli in 1915 when, with his body painted black, he swan two miles to shore and lit flares to create a diversion to cover up a British landing party.
 German parachute troops would have flight of about 75 miles from the Greek mainland and slightly less If they took off from Greek is- lands seized by German and 1tal- ian forces late last month and early this month.
 German Report
 Berlin, May 20 - (UP) - The high command said today that the Luftwaffe had made a powerful at- tack on the Island of Crete, where dive-bombers set fire to British cruiser of the Yark class, destroyed a dozen British war planes and bat tered the air fields.
 (The York c'..s cruisers are of S,250 tons and carry normal con- pliment of 600 men. The York was built in 1928. London reported German parachute attack was be- lieved started at Crete)
 Crete is the principal British