RAIDS ON MALTA

Grey River Argus, 28 April 1942, Page 5

RAIDS ON MALTA

Hospitals Hit Big Raid on Sunday GOVERNOR AND GENERAL WAINWRIGHT. EXCHANGE MESSAGES. (Rec. 11.45.) RUGBY, April 27. A Malta message states that a large-scale Luftwaffe attack was made, on Sunday afternoon. Bombs fell in several localities and divebombers participated. There was a heavy enemy fighter escort. Royal Air Force fighters and anti-aircraft guns intercepted the attack, and two enemy bombers and one enemy fighter were damaged. The ground defences later destroyed one bomber and damaged ' another. There was some civilian damage on Saturday evening. The Governor of Malta sent the following message to General Wainwright: “The people of Malta send warm greetings to the gallant defenders of Corregidor. They watched with profound admiration the magnificent fight you put Up, which has been a great inspiration to us all.

“You are giving untold assistance to the Allied cause. God grant you may soon reap the fruits of victory.” General Wainwright replied: “The officers and men of the enlisted forces in Corregidor deeply appreciate ithe sentiments expressed in your message. In your efforts to contribute to the common cause of freedom, for which Philippine and American troops are now fighting, we are inspired and encouraged by the historic stand made by the gallant defenders of Malta. With Go'd’s help our peoples shall join hands across the seas in celebrating the return of freedom to the democratic nations of the world.”

LONDON, April 27. The Luftwaffe made three raids on Malta, on Saturday. Aerodromes were attacked. R.A.F. fighters which intercepted phot down one enemy bomber and two fighters. Eight bombers and two fighters were severely damaged- Two of the raids were carried out by German aircraft in force. Malta hospitals were subjected t 0 three deliberate daylight heavy bombing attacks. In the first raid, two wards of the general hospital were demolished, the Red Cross on the roof destroyed, and the dining hall hit. The casualties were six killed and two wounded.

A German officer prisoner in the hospital expressed horror and amazement at his comrades, as he' knew the Red Cross was visible. He warned a nurse to take shelter, at the next alert, as “now they have started they will not leave the building standing.” The Red Cross was improvised from sheets, which la German prisoner said, was large enough. In the second raid, the same hospital was hit again. Three more wards were demolished, and an improvised Red Cross hit. Four were killed, including a child. At another hospital, damage was done by a' bomb, and an unexploded bomb hit the Red Cross on the roof. A prisoner of war camp, which hail been put in the hospital area, tor safety, was also hit. One Italian prisoner was killed and another was injured. There was a further raid when the cookhouse of the first hospital to be attacked was hit, ana other bombs fell in the area. Details of the damage done are not yet available. _ „ Enemy raids on Malta continued on a heavy scale yesterday. our fighters destroyed one U 88 and two ME 109’s, while anti-aircraft guns accounted for another enemy fighter. On Thursday and Friday, anti-air-craft gunfire shot down four JU oo - A number of enemy aircraft operated over the Suez Canal area last night. One of the raiders was intercepted and probably destroyed by our night fighters. * From all these operations, five oi

our aircraft are missing. Last week 30 German _ aircraft were destroyed by Royal Air Force fighters and anti-aircraft defences of Malta during the first three days. Twenty of them were bombers and 10 fighters. In addition many, more were damaged, and it is unlikely that they all regained their Sicilian bases.