LANDINGS ON LEROS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 270, 13 November 1943, Page 5

LANDINGS ON LEROS

GERMAN ATTACKS REPORTED British Official Wireless Rec. 1 p.m.' RUGBY, Nov. -12, German forces carried out en attack on the island of Leros, in the Dodecanese, in the early morning, says a Middle East communique. At some points the enemy gained a footing and his detachments are being dealt with. At other points he was repulsed and several landing craft were destroyed or damaged. Italian forces are fighting side by side with the British. The main German landings were at two places on the island's northeastern corner, says Reuters Cairo correspondent. Smaller landings were made on the- east and southeast sides of the island. It is not yet possible to obtain a clear picture of the events. At least three German landing craft, each reported to be carrying about 100 soldiers, were sunk and others were damaged at Leros, says the Cairo correspondent of the Associated Press. The British were without lighter support, as Leros has no airfield and our nearest air bases, namely, Cyprus and Egypt, are too far away. The Germans, who have many air bases in Rhodes, Crete and Greece, were assisted by dive bombers. The German News Agency claims that the Germans gained a firm footins and are now locked in battle with the island's garrison.