THE MEDITERRANEAN

Grey River Argus, 1 May 1942, Page 6

THE MEDITERRANEAN

MALTA RAIDS Italian Battleships Out [British Official Wireless] RUGBY, April 29. A Cairo communique states: Patrol activity in Libya continued Tuesday. During operations by our fighters in the forward areas of Libya, yesterday, one enemy aircraft was destroyed. Lorries and petrol bowsers were destroyed when enemy aircraft transport was attacked near Ghemines. Raids .on Malta on Monday and yesterday were on a heavy scale. Some damage was caused, including that to a church and civilian houses. Two JU 88’s were shot down by antiaircraft fire, and other enemy aircraft were severely damaged. Two of our aircraft are missing. Berlin sources attribute a sudden stiffening of Malta’s defences to the arrival of American fighters. A spokesman points ojut that this ties up with Mr. Roosevelt’s declaration that Americans will fight anywhere in the world, where the Axis forces can be found. German reports do’not specify how the American planes reached Malta, but suggest that American warships, probably including an aircraft carrier, were responsible for their arrival.

Italy is unprecedently risking capital ships for convoying troops and supplies from Italy to Africa, reports the Associated Press Cairo correspondent. Britain and America always regarded capita*' ships as a striking force rather than convoy defence. Italian capital ships in the early stages of their use were admitediy useful as escorts, but the Royal Navy’s submarines are now intervening successfully. Fifty-eight were killed and 110 were injured in a raid on the Alexandria area, last night. Some damage was done to property. The R.A.F. Middle East communique states: Enemy aircraft raided Alexandria, Last nieht. Our night fighters intercepted the enemy, shooting down two and damaging others. A further enemy aircraft was shot down his morning. During an attack on a small enemy convoy in the Gulf of Sirte, on April 28, our aircraft shot down two Dornier 18’s. A tanker in the convoy was hit. In another part of the Mediterranean, a medium-sized merchant vbssel, escorted by three destroyers, was attacked and hit with a torpedo on Monday night. A further convoy was attacked on Sunday night. One shin was hit by a torpedo. Aerodromes in Crete were raided on Monday night. FURTHER RAIDS ON MALTA.

(Rec. 11.3.') LONDON, April 30. Four small-scale raids are reported from Malta. Two raiders were severely damaged and four others damaged.