Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-05-24

Init News Service 8
WITH THE BRITISH MEDI-
TERRANEAN FLEET AT ALEX
ANDRIA. May 24.-One of the
wars greatest disasters. in which
thousands of German soldiers
persisted at sea while crying vainly
for rescue, was revealed today
when a British naval squadron re-
turned to Alexandria after de-
stroying a big convoy of Nazi
troopships headed for Crete.
The catastrophe overwhelmed
the German expedition in the
black darkness of late Wednesday
night and early Thursday. when
British cruisers and destroyers for
three hours blew up and rammed
into bits scores of fishing vessels
and small merchant ships laden
with German troops.
An Italian destroyer, escorting
the Nazi transports. was blasted
out of the water by tons of six
inch shells and one of the larger
German troopships burst into a
mass of flame that converted her
into a funeral pyre for several
hundred Nazi soldiers and Off
GERS.
GERMANS IN THE SEA
Around dawn Thursday, as the
British squadron was steaming
back from a chase of the few sur
viving Nazi vessels, thousands of
Germans were seen clinging TO
pieces OF wreckage on the sea,
shouting for help. But the British
warships could not stop TO pick up
survivors because waves Of Nazi
dive bombers were attacking them
and German torpedo speedboats
were near.
In an eyewitness account Of the
nightmarish tragedy that over
took the German troops not one
of whom succeeded in getting 10
Crete, the captain Of participant
ing British cruiser related:
"The sea was full Of thous-
ands of Germans clinging to
wreckage and shouting for
help"
I'VE sank them with our 4
inch guns and pom-poms," the
captain said, referring TO the
action of his own cruiser, adding:
"Our cruisers and destroyers
also rammed them. The havoc
wrought was so great that no
xxa-aoaA tA land nm
Crete that night"
Following this spectacular VIC
tory against a convoy the captain
estimated to consist of 40 or so
vessels carrying at least 10000
troops, the triumphant British
squadron successfully resisted no
'fless than 30 German dive bombing
assaults on its return 10 Alex
andria.
OTHERS TAKE UP THE JOB
Meanwhile. other British naval
squadrons were continuing the
task of preventing the Germans
from reinforcing their aerial in
vasion of Crete by sea.
The British cruiser commander
told a story Of wholesale death
and horror at sea.
The large German transport
feet was completely dispersed or
sunk" in pitch darkness, he said.
Describing an action that may
forewarn the Germans on what
may happen if they try 10 invade
Britain the captain said that units
of the feet. including his ship,
were patrolling of Crete, ready
for battle, when the encounter oc-
Cured. He said:
I'VE were steaming eastward
when suddenly at about IL p. m.
our destroyer screen opened fire
and darkened ship, which Was
our first intimation that we were
In contact with the enemy.
CHANGED COURSE
1--WE altered our cruisers
course and entered the fray. The
destroyers' opening salvos were
most effective. To our starboard
a great bonfire appeared In the
ocean. 1t was apparently one Of
the troop-carrying merchant
men. She was burning from end
to end.
"The first ship my cruiser
sighted was an Italian destroyer
which was at the closest range.
Her identity was doubtful at
Arsf ouiuO I'm her slnila rity 70
our own single-funnel destroyers.
But our searchlight picked
out her fat, immaculate paint