Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-06-02
Axis Affirn1s
Defiance Of

BY PIERRE J. HUss
InI1 News service staff Corre,ponde.t

intI News service staff Correspondents
BERLIN, June - Germany
and Italy today completed the
subjugation of Crete and pro-
ceeded-with a meeting between
Reichsfuehrer Hitler and Premier
MusSolini-to consideration Of the
next stage of the war and the pos
Isible effects of increased American
aid to BFitainr--
The two dictators met unex-
lpectedly at the Brenner Pass just
as the official German radio an
-pounced- cessation of hnStilities in
Crete, terming il Britain's great.
Iest defeat since the war began.
Hitler and Mussolini, informed
tcireies said, reaffiFmed the Axis,
determination TO resist President
Rooseveit,s aHndeeiafea W r..
against Germany and resolved an
immutable policy, with Japanese
tco-operation, of guarding Europe
from all outside aggression and
interference.
The tenth meeting between the :
two dictators was a full dress
affair in every sense of the term.
CHIEFTAINs PRESENT
II lasted for more than five
hours German Chief of Staff Gen.
Wilhelm KeiteI and Italian Chief
of Staff Gen. Ugo Cavallero par
ticipated internationally" Also
present were Otto Dietrich. Ger
man press chief. Prince. Otto Won
Bismarck. German ambassador to
Rome. Lieut.. General Won Rintelen,
Dino Alfieri. Italian ambassador to
Berlin, and many other leading
and military figures.
Keitel and Cavallero, an official
announcement said, took advan-
tage of the opportunity to carry
on personal discussion regarding
German Italian military collabo-
ration which was carried out in
"a spirit of cordial comradeship-in-
arms"
JUBILANT AT VICTORY
Germany was jubilant over
cessation of hostilities in Crete.
Three thousand additional pris-
ionerS were taken when German
Alpine troops shamshed the last
British stronghold in the noun
.tainS north of Sphakion.
The fighting i'm Crete has
ended" an official bulletin said.
The entire island II now rid OF
the foe.
German troops haze eccun,eASs,
Sphaki0n - last base of the
beaten enemy"
Latest figures issued by the high
command brought to, at least 49,
900 the number of British troops
captured.
These hopping up operations
gave the Germans complete con-
troll of Crete after the Anglo
Greek defenders had been crushed
in an air-borne invasion.
DESTROYER SUNK
After forming a junction at
Hierapetra on the southeast coast
of Crete, Axis forces continued to
round up prisoners.
A later announcement said Ger
man planes sank a British de-
.stroyer yesterday between Crete
and the British naval base at Alex
andria, Egypt
A London announcement that
$4,000 troops had been evacuated
from Crete was described as pure
propaganda" by Berlin quarters.
They claimed only "a fraction" OF
the BEE had been picked up by
British warships and taken rom
the island.
SHIPS BOMBED
The British navy repeatedly re-
ceived heavy losses from bombing
attacks. German fighter ID
rons constantly hammered the
naval units. An official announces
ment claimed that one destroyer
was damaged by four direct bomb
hits Saturday and that four Brit
ish hurricane fighters were shot
down. The Man planes escaped
without a single loss.
A 30O0-ton British merchants
man and eoaStwise vessel carry
ing ammunition were Said 10 have
been sunk south Of Crete. An Of
fetal announcement said small
troop ship was severely damaged