the field artillery journal - Fort Sill - U.S. Army

168 THE FIELD ARTILLERY JOURNAL March
At twilight the enveloping movement, begun on both
flanks by the right battalion of the mountain-jaeger
regiment made its effect felt. The left company of this
battalion had lengthened the forward detachment toward
the northeast and taken a height which was excellent for
enfilading; and at 2200 a company arrived to within one
kilometer of the fork in the road. Shortly after midnight it
was ascertained that the enemy had retreated; at 0300 the
road junction southeast of the battlefield was reported to be
clear of enemies.
As soon as it became light on May 29th the advance
began in the same formation as on the day before, and on
the whole went smoothly to the bridge 2 kilometers west of
Episkope (general map). Many obstructions in the road and
several mine-blockades had to be removed or by-passed.
The bridge at Episkope itself was severely damaged, and
not until 1100 could it be sufficiently repaired so that even
motorcyclists could be sent through. The advance toward
Rhethymno encountered no opposition from the enemy
except for a few rifle shots in the inhabited places, so the
forward detachment reached the town at 1300. After a brief
mopping up of Greek soldiers in the place and silencing the
enemy fire on the slopes south of Rhethymno, the forward
detachment reached the fork in the road 3 kilometers east
of the town and effected a junction with the western
Rhethymno group of parachute jaegers. After raking the
southern slopes with antitank guns and cannon and
dispatching patrols, several hundred Greek troops on the
slopes surrendered.
The situation east of Rhethymno indicated that the
slopes along the river road were strongly garrisoned by the
enemy. Artillery and machine-gun fire had continually
been directed against the positions of the parachute
jaegers—also occasionally the fire of trench mortars. It was
therefore not advisable to advance without the protective
fire of heavy weapons and artillery, so the attack against
this enemy position was set for the morning of May 30
after the bringing up of 2 tanks and 2 heavy infantry guns.
The 29th of May was used also for the mopping up of
Rhethymno, the protection of the south flank, and making
the necessary reconnaissance and preparations for the
attack.
First a strong protective fire was prepared in order to
dominate the heights flanking the road, which were
occupied by the enemy. Under this protection the tanks
were to advance along the road. They were to be
accompanied by heavy weapons and a detachment of
artillery so that the protective fire could be extended after
an advance of 2 or 3 kilometers until the break-through
along the road should be accomplished.
At 0500 the advance detachment began the attack. The
enemy opened fire with three guns on the cross-road and
the outward passage. Our own artillery was soon able to
silence 2 enemy guns or force them to change position. It
also bombarded the olive-covered slopes along the river so
effectively that the forward detachment could, by around
0700, press forward about 4 kilometers. Now the heavy
infantry weapons and the cannon that had been placed in
front went into action and subjected the slopes along the
flank to a heavy fire. The effect of this concentration of
fire was decisive. Singly at first, then in ever-increasing
numbers, English soldiers were observed with raised
hands and white pieces of cloth. Firing ceased; a white
flag and a beckoning signified that an approach could be
made without danger. After about a quarter of an hour
several hundred Australian soldiers, among them a
colonel, had come up to the point company. They
guaranteed that also those English soldiers that were still
in the mountains would cease resisting. According to the
statement of the colonel there were about 1,100
Australians and also detachments of Greek troops.
Toward 0700 the advance was resumed and about 0830
the forward detachment reached the eastern group of the
Rhethymno mountain jaegers. The advance was
continued with the greatest possible speed. In three or
four inhabited places the forward detachment was fired
upon by snipers, who were soon disposed of. Enemy
soldiers were now encountered only singly and unarmed.
Although numerous stone barricades hindered progress, it
was possible around 1145, shortly after crossing the pass
10 kilometers west of Herakleion, to make contact with a
patrol sent out by the group of parachute jaegers fighting
in that region.
About 1330 the forward detachment at the aerodrome
of Herakleion came to a technical rest. The squadrons that
had been appointed at Rhethymno to protect the flanks
during the morning and later collected the prisoners had
not yet arrived.
At 1600 the advance was resumed. The only
obstructions were barricades in the road. All opposition,
including that of the population, had ceased everywhere.
For safety the advance up to the pass west of Neapolis
was made in close order, with tanks preceding. From
there a reinforced detachment of motorcyclists advanced
at an accelerated tempo in order to reach Hierapetra,
which was the goal for that day. During the advance a
junction was effected west of Kalo Khorio with an Italian
motor patrol, which was to cover this position during the
night. After exchanging greetings and disclosing each
other's objectives the forward detachment continued on
its way and reached Hierapetra at 1900. By 2300 the
whole detachment of motorcyclists had arrived there with
the exception of the 1st Company, which had remained at
Kalo Khorio. Enemy troops were no longer to be
observed. The village was completely destroyed. The
only living beings there were Greek policemen.
On that day the forward detachment together with the
main body covered 80 kilometers to the Herakleion
aerodrome and from there 110 kilometers to Hierapetra,
besides fighting a battle. These battles themselves must
be regarded as pursuit combats in which the terrain was
especially favorable to the enemy.