‘The nearby salt mines and haystacks in Touleva meadows were first set on fire. Then the buildings were blown up, that is the large circular fort (used as a barracks & fort), kitchens, electric power plant, fire-control centres with telephones, cable pits, ammunition depots and the two artesian wells. These explosions took place at short intervals. Next the 8-inch guns, two at each of the forts along with their emplacements were blown to pieces.. These guns were destroyed by placing charges at three different points in each, and speaking as an eye-witness these were most effective. Lastly, the buildings used as headquarters and officers’ mess were set on fire and in a few minutes were a blazing mess. Parts of one of the searchlights that could not be loaded on caiques, owing to an accident with the crane, were destroyed. The floating crane was then sunk against the end of the jetty.
By 1pm on the 9th the work of demolition was complete and of the Gulf of Salonika Naval Defences only mounds and craters remained.’ (Source: 1H – report dated 30/4/41)