LAMPEDUSA RAID

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 136, 10 June 1943, Page 5

LAMPEDUSA RAID

AXIS RADIO ACCOUNT

(Rec. 9 a.m.) LONDON, June 9. Although no comment is forthcoming from London, the Axis radio stations continue to put out further details of the Allied raid on Lampedusa Island. ' The German-controlled Norwegian radio said that the R.A.F. did not participate in the action. The British Mediterranean Fleet was not in evidence. The landing operation was made when the weather conditions were the best possible for . such an attack. The landing-boats crept carefully across the sea from the east coast of Tunisia and got near the island before the Italian sentries discovered them. The small Italian garrison was immediately on the alert and a spirited fight developed in which there were considerable casualties on both siaes. British forces which landed were encircled and destroyed after a few hours, while the coastal artillery took care of those landing craft which did not reach the beach. Paris radio said it is reported from Berlin that the object of the Allied commando raid on Lampedusa Island was to test the preparedness of the defences and the capability of the Italian soldier to defend himself. It is considered possible that a serious attempt will be made to land on Pantelleria, the radio added.