Daily Post - 23.05.1941, Blaðsíða 1

DAILY POST
II — 120 Friday, May 23, 1941 Prie«: lfi amr
Nazi convoy intercepted off Crete.
London, May 22nd.
In the battle of Crete last niglit
British naval .units intercepted an
enemy convoy heading for the island.
Two transport ships were sunk. These
facts were revealed hy Mr. Churchill
in Parliament to-day. He added that
early this morning a further attempt
at landing from the sea was made by
the enemy when a convoy of about
30 vessels was intercepted near Crete
by British destroyers. The enemy ves-
sels turned away towards the Greek
mainland and no information of the
engagement has been received so far.
Mr. Churchill said that there was,
however, hardly to be expected that
the result had not been favourahle for
the British.
The Germans continue to land wave
after wave of airborne troops. They have
had scme local successes. The main at-
tacks are directed against three points:
the Kanea and Suda Bay area, Heraklea
and Malema (inland). At Heraklea Brit-
ish troops still hold the aerodrome but
the Germans have occupied some build-
ings in the town. At Malema the enemy
is holding the aerodrome but it is still
under British fire.
The spirit of the defenders is said to
be higher than ever. They are fighting
with splendid courage and dash. The
battle is described as most strange and
grim. Neither side has any means of re-
treat.
Mr. Churchill concluded his statement
by saying that a desperate battle was
being fought which would effect the
whole course of the war in the Mediter-
ranean.
22.000 ITALIANS CAPTURED LAST
WEEK.
London, May 22nd.
The Cairo communiqué today states that
during the last week more than 22.000
Italians have been captured in Abyssinia,
most of them in the Amba Alagi area.
In the Gondar area the Italians con-
tinue to retreat, hotly pursued by the
Imperial forces who have inflicted heavy
losses on the enemy and captured well
over a hundred prisoners. British casual-
ties are slight.
In the lake area 400 Italians have been
0 .
captured.
Free French pilots have bombed and
machine-gunned enemy positions in Abys-
sinia.
The Cairo communiqué further states
that at Sollum three German tanks have
been knocked out and that R.A.F. and
South African bombers made a heavy at-
tack on enemy motor transport in the
Capuzzo area.
In Iraq land operations continue in the
Fallujah region. German aircraft have
again raided Habbania.