DIRECTED FROM MALTA

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 31, 5 August 1943, Page 5

DIRECTED FROM MALTA

INVASION OF SICILY

Rec. 12.50 p.m. RUGBY, August 4. "The George Cross Island waited patiently to play its part in the invasion of Europe, and by doing-so to avenge itself.!' Admiral Cunningham told a news agency war correspondent, who adds: "Malta was the key point for the British landing attempt. From its great. harbours, which the Axis claimed had been made unusable, went hundreds of naval ships of all types

to cover the invasion fleet. From ports, coves, and inlets went hundreds of' landing sraft carrying men, guns, and tanks to Sicily's beaches. ' From Malta's airfields R.A.F. fighters, flew hundreds of sorties, covering our invasion troops until we had established, airfields in Sicily itself. Even the great air invasion/fleet used Malta as a landmark, flying over the island on their way from Africa to Sicily. "On the island itself the Allied com-manders-in-chief ior the first six days of the' invasion had their headquarters. For several weeks before operations began shipping and troops were quietly gathered together at the. island. Camps sprang up everywhere, and "troops flocked through the streets waiting for the day they would embark. Never had Malta sheltered so many soldiers, sailors, and airmen. QUIET EXODUS. "On July 9 came the exodus, but the people^ of Malta, very security-minded, pretended not to notice the absence of soldiers from the streets or to observe ships slipping out of the harbour. All that was left were the headquarters staff, who directed the invasion fleet leaving the island into position with other parts of the invasion fleet coming from all points' along the North African' Coast. "The 'signal box' was situated in the caves and tunnels' the' people'of Malta have built into the huge clifflike rocks, and from here Generals Eisenhower and Alexander, Admiral Cunningham, Air Marshal Tedder, and General Montgomery directed operations. Into the signal box came wireless reports every few. minutes during the evening of July 9 Hhat everything was going according to .time-table. The only fly in the ointment was the weather, as a high wind blew up during the late afternoon, causing heavy surfs on the landing beaches. Generals Eisenhower and Alexander snatched an hour away and went to different headlands oh the island to watch the ! air armada winging its way over'tO- j wards Sicily.' Huge gliders could be clearly seen; and General, Eisenhower stood for several ininutes at the^salute as they passed over. It was then that an Englisn colonel remarked: 'This is Crete in reverse.' General Eisenhower afterwards Visited the naval war room, where he heard during the night -that the invasion fleet had reached Sicily without interruption." —E.0.W.. ____. _______„