TRIBUTE TO GARRISON

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 121, 18 November 1943, Page 5

TRIBUTE TO GARRISON

DETERMINED RESISTANCE

Rec. 11.10 a.m

RUGBY, Nov. 17.

The fall of Leros is announced in a Middle East communique, which states: "Throughout yesterday the enemy continued his overwhelming

aerial bombardment of Leros. Aftei very severe fighting and in spite o: the most determined resistance in the face of fresh enemy reinforcements arganised resistance ceased in the averting." Extensive sweeps over the Aegear Sea were made yesterday by fighter! sf the Middle East Command. Spit Sres and Hurricanes carried out ar Dffensive reconnaissance of Rhode: and Crete. Damage was inflicted or snemy installations in Crete by Hurricanes. Long-range fighters over Lero: shot down an Arado 196. A Seibe ferry west of Kalinos was attacked bj Beaufighters. After catching fire i was seen to blow up. Last night the airfields at Calatc and Maritza were bombed. Pre liminary reports indicate that both at tacks were successful. From these and other operation; three of our aircraft are missing.— 8.0. W. Leros, where British forces landec at the time of the Italian surrendej Lwo months ago, fell after five day: af heavy fighting and continuous aii oombardment. Owing to lack of an :over it had not been possible foi British warships to afford the garrison anything like the support afforded in the Sicilian and Italian landings ami the subsequent operations kny artillery -support had to be shori 3nd sharp, because the ships wen subjected to attacks night 'and daj [rom aircraft based in Rhodes, Crete Kos, and Athens. Rhodes is a bare 8C miles away, while the nearest Allied oases in Africa are 400 miles distant Evidently a substantial effort was levoted to the recapture of the island out as the weight of that effort is noi mown, it is impossible to estimate :he value to the Allied cause which ii represents, nor can an attempt be made to reckon the effect that this iiversion of effort had on other German, campaigns.—8.0. W.