MALTA'S ORDEAL

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 6, 8 January 1942, Page 7

MALTA'S ORDEAL

SPECULATION ABOUT PURPOSE OF RAIDS

RUGBY, January 6. The strong persistence of the enemy attacks on Malta during the past few weeks has received considerable prominence in the British Press, and has caused a number of experts to consider what the chief purpose of the l-aids may be. The "Manchester Guardian" this morning notes that "on 15 out of 17 days since December 20 Axis reports have claimed heavy raiding' of Malta,"" and says: "As a cumulative ordeal, it is worse than any British city has yet suffered except London, and Malta has not London's protective size.

"This heavy and persistent attack by the Germans and Italians began soon after General Rommel's division, worsted at Gazala, began to fall back, making no attempt to hold" Benghazi. Our night bombers at this time, presumably based on Malta, had made one or two heavy bombings of south Italian ports like Taranto and Brindisi. We must suppose that the Axis became determined to reinforce General Rommel. Our raids on places like Taranto held up enemy sea traffic, or reconnaissance planes and ships based on Malta detected and betrayed to more powerful units any movement on the seaway to Tripoli. In fact, most of the enemy losses during the attempt to reinforce Libya owed everything, or nearly everything, to our use of Malta.

"Some see in the' present offensive the prelude of an-attempt to invade and seize Malta in Cretan fashion. Others, thinking that the certain cost would keep the enemy from such an attempt, believe that the bombing, particularly of the aerodrome, is meant to ruin the island as an offensive base for us. Whatever the enemy plans, we have our own, which will be to keep and use Malta not only for the present campaign in Libya, but also for future operations against southern Italy. But let us not forget the people and garrison of Malta in these days and nights."—B.O.W.