CHANGE OF POLICY

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 250, 20 July 1942, Page 5

CHANGE OF POLICY

Axis Campaign Against Malta FAILURE OF MASS BOMBING (British Official Wireless.) (Received July 19, 7.5 p.m.) RUGBY, July 18. Having been frustrated in all its attempts to reduce Malta’s air and naval bases, the Axis has recently _ again changed its plan of action. It is now sending over only a small number of bombers at a time, with a large tighter escort. That 100 aircraft have been shot down so far this month indicates the measure of the failure of these latest tactics. The Luftwaffe set out in April and May to liquidate Malta with the most concentrated bombing of a small target ever known. It ignored losses and rained thousands of tons of high explosives on a target area about the size of a London suburb, but failed to achieve its object. The next step was concentration on convoys in the hope of starving out the island, but that failed. For months the defenders did an almost superhuman job, resisting attracks. On one occasion Valetta was attacked by 110 bombers, and more than 100 fighters. Against this armada Malta put up her then maximum of seven lighters, which destroyed twice their numbers. After Spitfires arrived to reinforce the Hurricanes, the Luftwaffe in one day lost a quarter of its attacking force. More than 300 bombing sorties were flown against the island in one day, but the enemy met a hotter defence than had been expected. The R.A.F. fighters were still hopelessly outnumbered, but in May reinforcements were flown to the' island, from carriers, and the Germans learnt a lesson which finally convinced them that mass raiding was hopeless, and Malta’s outlook turned from defence to attack. The Germans then tried night attacks, but the R.A.F. night fighters came into their own. Now the Axis policy has changed again. POSTS EXCHANGED R.A.F. Commands In Egypt And Mediterranean (British Official Wireless.) (Received July 19, 7.5 p.m.) RUGBY, July 18. The Air Ministry announces that Air Vice-Marshal Hugh Lloyd, who has been air officer commanding the R.A.F. in the Mediterranean during the past year, has been succeeded by Air Vice-Marshal Keith Rodney Park. Air Vice-Marshal Lloyd will shortly take 'tip the appointment which Air Vice-Marshal Park has just relinsuished, command of the R.A.F. iu Egypt. In handing over, Air Vice-Marshal Lloyd said the command had had a very eventful time stopping convoys from the Greek coast to northern Africa. This work had played an important part in the Libyan campaign. Malta had been the base to hit enemy supply routes and to hit the loading ports in Italy. The enemy's losses from these attacks had been heavy and he had been obliged to provide a heavy escort for his convoys, while others had doubled the length of the journey to avoid Malta, which bad forced the Germans to transfer air craft from Russia and France. The attacks on Malta had been most concentrated and the enemy air force used there had been kept away from attacks on Britain. Malta had de stroyed so many aircraft that the German effort In Africa had been weakened. Today Malta was stronger than ever before, the fighter force being the best in the world. Air Vice-Marshal Lloyd, in thanking his men for the way they had worked under him, said that in the future they would be proud to say they had been at Malta. Air Vice-Marshal Lloyd enlisted for the Great War when he was 15 years old. He was three times wounded and was commissioned in the R.F.C. in 1917. He was awarded the Military Cross. Croix de Guerre and Distinguished Flying Cross. Between the war lie served in Egypt and India. Air Vice-Marshal Park is a fighter ace of the last war who served with the New Zealand forces on Gallipoli, and later transferred to the air force. He is one of Britain’s greatest experts in the operation of fighter aircraft. He flew his own plane over Dunkirk during tlie evacuation.