LEROS SURRENDERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 November 1943, Page 5

LEROS SURRENDERS

AERIAL ATTACKS DECIDE

ALLIED FORCES HANDICAPPED

/ RUGBY, November 17. . The fall of Leros is announced in a Middle East communique, which states that throughout yesterday the enemy continued an overwhelming aerial bombardment of. Leros. After very severe fighting, and in spite ol the most determined resistance, in the face of fresh enemy reinforcements, organised resistance ceased in the evening. Leros, where the British forces landed at the time of the Italian surrender two months ago, fell after five days’ heavy fighting and. continuous air bombardment. Owing to lack of air cover, it has not been possible for British warships to afford the garrison anything; like the support afforded the Sicilian and Italian landings, and the subsequent operations . Any artillery support had to be short and sharp because the ships were subjected to attacks night and day from aircraft based on Rhodes, Crete, Kos and Athens. Rhodes is barely 80 miles away, while the nearest Allied bases in Africa are 400 miles. Evidently a substantial effort was devoted to recapture the island, but as the weight of that effort is not known, it is impossible to estimate the value to the Allied cause which it represents. No attempt can be made do reckon the effect that this diversion effort had on the other German campaigns. German”claims. (Rec. 11.25 a.rn.) LONDON, Nov. 17. A special communique from Hitler’s Headquarters claimed that 200 British officers and 3000 non-com-missioned officers and men under the British commander of the island, General Itllney, also 350 Italian Baroglio officers and 5000 non-com-missioned officers and men under the Italian Admiral Masharpa, surrendered to the Germans.

The communique added: The Germans captured 16 British heavy antiaircraft guns, 20 light anti-aircraft guns, about 120 other guns and 80 anti-aircraft machine-guns. German naval forces and air forces destroyed during the preliminary fight nine destroyers and escort vessels, two patrol vessels, two submarines, one gunboat, four merchantmen, several supply ships, and also hit one cruiser, one destroyer, and two escorts. The Berlin radio claims that Samos, the only major island in the Aegean left in Allied hands, is isolated by the capture of Leros. “The British had occupied not only the entire Dodecanese, but also many islands in the Cyclades and Sporacles groups. All these are again in German hands, with the exception of Castelrosso, although they were stubbornly defended by the British Fleet and air forces.” The German News Agency declares that Leros strategically is the most important of all the islands in this area.. It is a base for the control oi eastern entry to the Aegean. Detailing the surrender of Leros, the German overseas radio said that British and Italian envoys arrived at German Headquarters carrying white flags, and agreed to the German commander’s demand for unconditional surrender. “The surrender followed four days’ tremendous warfare. The German High Command threw in shock troops and parachutists, supported by a strong air formation of bombers and Stukas. Motor torpedoboats and light naval units were also successfully employed. The losses among the British and Italians are reported to be very heavy.”

“NO MILITARY IMPORTANCE.”

(Rec. 11 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 17. Once again concentrated air power has overwhelmed ground resistance, as it did in Crete, says the British United Press, military correspondent, commenting on the loss ol Leros. He adds it was not the. attacks from enemy ground forces, which were mostly held, but the serial bombardment that finally smashed the Allied resistance. Reuter’s military writer says that the Leros episode has no real military importance, but will give the German propaganda an opportunity for some trumpeting. The position of the British troops on Samos becomes more exposed as the result ot the loss of Leros. AERIAL OPERATIONS RUGBY, November 17. Medium bombers, escorted by long-range fighters, attacked the airfield at Eleusia, near Athens, and the harbour at Sibenik, Jugoslavia, yesterday, states the Allied Headquarters Fighters and fighter-bombers atacked. targets in th.e battle area, and shipping oft the Adriatic coast oI Italy. During these operations thirteen enemy aircraft were destroyed. Three of ours are missing. Extensive sweeps in the Aegean Sea were made yesterday by fighters of the Middle East Command. Spitfires and Hurricanes carried out an offensive reconnaissance of Rhodes and Crete. Damage was inflictea on enemy installations in Crete by Hurricanes. Long-range fighters over Leros shot down an Arado 196. Seibel Ferry, west of Kalinos, was attacked by Beaufighters. After catching lire it was seen to blow up. Last night airfields at Calato and Maritza were bombed. Preliminary reports indicate that both attacks were successful. From these and other operations three of our aircraft are missing.