The spokesman affirmed that there had been no landings of the enemy by sea.
Describing the situation as confused, he declared that it was by means certain that a whole air. division had been landed, still tess Janded intact." German facties had consisted of showering down troops at various points, but the only point which they had been successful was Maleme, aerodrome Questioned whether the Allied troops were hampered by the absence Of air support, the spokesman expressed the view that the main effect of such absence was that it was depress-Ing to be dive-bombed without seeing one's own planes in the air. Dive bombing, however, was not so effective against seasoned troops well dug, against troops retreating.
After force hand-to-hand Aghting, Allied troops have driven the Ger~ mans. out of every Important point in Crete except one—Maleme—and con trol the entire coast of the island, Accorfing to the latest information from Crete, Brilliant work by the Allies is still restricting German troops landings, either by parachute or troop-carrying German emplncoments at Heraklion Candia and at Retimo are stated to have been knocked out by Allied forces, and the situation at both places is now said to be satisfactory.
At Maleme. a fow miles west of Suda Bay, the Germans have occupied 4 piece of ground about the aerodrome to enable aircraft to land, and the aerodrome is under fire and has been ceaselessly attacked, Serious Aghting is still yoing on, Elsewhere on the island uir-borne troops are still being landed by the Germans, but they have met with no swecess, "Australian, New Zealand, Britsbh and Grok forees, striking with great fury and determination, have closed in upon every fresh batch of Germans and have either destroyed them of taken them prisoner.
"Allied anti-alveratt qunniers are also pulling up an exceedingly good ght, fand last night's ale communique s0s that at Toast. 10 German' Lreop-car. sies have been brought down since the invasion began, Many ther heavy troop-carriers have been destroyed on landing, and 4 great number of parachutists have ren killed oF injured on landing.
total number of enemy casualties is considerably increasing, but It is believed that Aid casualties are not 'The Navy has played a big part tu this battle by smashing yp all etiemy ships attempting to land' troops and supplies by sea. Already three Axis convoys on their way to the island have been destroyed or driven back to their bases with heavy losses—Reuter,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.