VITAL STRENGTH IN AIR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 33, 18 November 1943, Page 3

VITAL STRENGTH IN AIR.

FACTOR IN THE EPISODE. EFFECT ON POSITION OP SAMOS. (Rec. 10.40 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 17. Again concentrated air power has overwhelmed ground resistance, as it did at Crete, says the military correspondent of the British United Press, commenting on the loss of Leros. He says it was not attacks from enemy ground forces, which were mostly held, hut the aerial bombardment that finally smashed Allied resistance, Reuter’s military writer says; that the episode of Leros has no real military importance but will give German propaganda an opportunity for some trumpeting. The position of the British troops on Samos becomes more exposed as a result of the loss of Leros.

The Berlin radio claims that Samos —the only major island in the Aegean left in Allied hands —is isolated by the capture of Leros. The announcer said: “The British had occupied not only the entire Dodecanese, but also many islands of the Cyclades and Sporades groups. All these are again ill German hands with the exception of Castelrosso, although they were stubbornly defended by the British Fleet and air forces.

The German News Agency declares that Leros is strategically the most important of all the islands of this area. It is the base for the control of the eastern entry to the Aegean. Detailing the surrender of Leros, the German overseas radio said that British and Italian envoys arrived at German headquarters carrying white flags, and agreed to the German commander’s demand for unconditional surrender. “Surrender, followed four days of tremendous warfare. The German High Command threw in shock troops and parachutists, supported by strong formations of bombers and Stukas. Motor torpedo-boats and light naval units were also successfully employed. The losses among the British and Italians are reported to be very heavy.”