London, Oct. 11.
Major-Gen. Freyburg, who commanded New Zealand and British troops in Crete, has told the story of the New Zealander's campaign in Greece and their defence of Crete. He said that by the end of March three New Zealand contingents were "raught together for the first time and concentrated in Macedonia.
On April 6 when the enemy had attacked Yugoslavia and Greece the division was ordered to retire to a short line ending at: Mount Olympus. The quick withdrawal in rain and snow was accomplished without loss 5f equipment or supply Major-Gen. Freyburg a high degree of diseípline and endurance.
A. machine-gun detachment on the Yugoslav frontier fired the first New Zealand shot at 10 p.m. on April 10. Two days later the Australians and New Zealanders were joined with the Second Anzac Corps to the great satisfaction of both.
Every Possible Man Evacuated Maj-Gen. Freyburg had high praise for the plans made for the breaking of enemy attacks and said that the remarkable success of the 10@-mile withdrawal to the Thermopylae line Surprised both the enemy and the New Zealanders. Referring to the final evacuation from Greece he stated that all parts of the defence reached the highest achievement and almost every wounded man who could be moved was taken out.
The difficulties in Crete, he went on, were increased as air attacks dé- veloped. The small number of planes available, the exposed position of the aerodromes arid the scale of the raids made it impossible for the R.A.F. to operate from Crete.
Against Tremendous Odds So Major-Gen. Freyburg had asked that the few remaining fighters should be sent to Egypt to avoid useless loss of life among the pilots who had fought gallantly against tremendous The Crete defenders delayed Herr Hitler's plans for a month so that when the time came he had neither material, troops nor inclination to ace further air losses in the western desert or in Syria.
He described one bitter battle in which fierce hand-to-hand fighting took place and more than 20 bayonet counter-attacks were carried out.
The commander said that the warmest admiration and gratitude of the troops went to the Royal Navy which guarded Crete effectively from sea-borne invasions and brought so many back from the island and from Greece.—Reuter.
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