FIRST LANDING

Grey River Argus, 10 June 1943, Page 5

FIRST LANDING

ON ITALIAN ISLAND By British Commandos BETWEEN TUNIS AND MALTA. CAust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.? LONDON, June 8. Axis sources report that, on Monday night, British forces attempted to land on Lampedusa Island, the Italian base between Malta and Tunisia. No confirmation of the attack has been given in London. An Italian communique stated: 'The attempted landing was promptly repulsed by our defence, which sank several enemy, naval vessels. Berlin radio stated: “The first Allied attempt to land on an Italian island has been frustrated.” Militarj r experts at Berlin do not doubt this , was a serious landing attempt by a party of five companies of well-trained troops, equipped with modern automatic weapons. The whole attempt lasted only a lew hours. If the Allies intended the raid to be a test of resistance from Italian troops, when defending their own soil, then the test ended brilliantly for the Italians. The Germans announced recently that defences had been built on the reefs skirting Lampedusa’s 20-miie coast. Last February the K.A.F. Malta-based planes knocked out Lampedusa, as an Italian seaplane base, on Rommel’s skyline from Sicily. Rome radio says: Every man reaching the shore was wiped out. This attempt brought a considerable British force and a'very small Italian garrison face to face. The attempt proves that despite the external appearance of the situation, which is seemingly dramatic, the Italians are animated by the firmest will to fight. Throughout Monday, Flying Fortresses, Spitfires and . Warhawks again pounded Pantellaria. By the time the last bombei' left for home smoke was rising 4000 feet above the island, and drifting almost a's far as the coast of Sicily, more than 50 miles north-east. As the Allied air offensive against Italy’s island outposts increases in intensity, recalling the technique of African campaigns, wherein every land attack was preceded by the maximum air blitz. General Kesselring has switched fighter squadrons to the threatened zone, in a desperate effort to stop the paralysing raids. Their intervention has not interfered with the relentless onslaught and has cost the Axis heavy losses. It only served to underline the completeness of Allieo air supremacy. . Allied Headquarters m North Africa stated: “Aircraft of the North-west African Air Force on Mondav continued to attack Pantellaria. ' Many, missions were carried out by heavy, medium, and tighter bombers during the day. Eleven enemy aeroplanes were destroyed during the operations, from which two of our aircraft are missing. A correspondent states that Pantellaria was Visited byj Fortresses. Mitchells, Marauders, and lighter bombers. Six of the enemy aircraft destroyed were got by six 817 gunners securing one kill each. Good results were secured with bombing. An R.A.F. Malta communique states: “Yesterday our lighter bombers attacked Palazzolo,. Sicily. Bombs burst among warehouses. Our intruders attacked road transport at night near Comiso, and extinguished a light signal south of Estilo.”

Air Marshal Lord Trenchard, visiting Malta stated: “The Air Forces of Britain and her Allies will .not finish the' war by; their efforts alone, but the effect of their pounding oi the enemy on his industrial and battle fronts will soften him, so the final victory may be won without the appalling casualties we sustained in the last war. Had it not been for the work of our Air Forces, our casualties at Alamein might have been increased tenfold,, while the battle for Tunisia might have been going on still, with thousands of casualties being incurred.” Am Italian communique says: The garrison of Pantellaria, reacting with undiminished bravery in face 1 of uninterrupted air assaults, destroyed

six planes. A further three crashed alter duels with German fighters. Enemy oombers over Messina ana Trapani caused considerable damage. LAMPEDUSA LANDING A COMMANDO OPERATION (Rec. 9.40) "LONDON, June 8. I The Paris radio says: It is reported from Berlin that the object of the Allied commando raid on Lampedusa was to test the preparedness of the defences, and the capability of the Italian soldier to defend himself. It is considered possible that a serious attempt will be made to land on the island of PantelLaria. NO LONDON CONFIRMATION. (Rec. 1.10.) LONDON, June 9. Although Axis radios put out accounts of the alleged raid on Lampedusa Island, there has been no comment forthcoming from London. FURTHER AXIS REPORTS. ITALIAN CLAIMS. (Rec. 1.10.) LONDON, June 9The Axis radios continue to put out further details of the alleged Allied raid on Lampedusa Island. The German controlled Norwegian radio said: The R.A.F. did not participate in the action. The British Mediterranean Fleet was not in evidence. The Landing operation was made when the weather conditions were the best possible for such an ■■attack. Landing boats crept carefully across the sea from the east coast of Tunisia. They got near Lampedusa Island before Italian sentries discovered them. Small Italian craft were immediately on the alert. A spirited fight developed, causing casualties on both sides. British forces, which landed, were encircled and destroyed, after a few hours, while our coastal artillery took care of those landing craft which did not reach the beach. GERMANY’S ATLANTIC WALL. LONDON, June 8. The German News Agency, describes the Channel Forts which are the beginning of the Atlantic Wall protecting Europe. At several points off the French coast anti-aircraft forts of thousands of tons of steel and concrete will secure this “no man’s land” against air attacks. It is still a secret how many of these fortresses are along the French coast from the North Sea to the Bay of Biscay. On tne towers of the antiaircraft emplacements are light and heavy guns. Extensive minefields surround the forts. Attack would cost the enemy dearly because- the forts would be the first taste of the unpleasant surprises which Germany has in readiness for the enemy along the whole of the- coast-line facing England. USE OF GAS. ROOSEVELT’S WARNING.

RUGBY, June 8. Mr. Roosevelt has threatened the Axis peoples of Europe and Asia with the “terrible consequences” of an Allied gas attack, if their military leaders employ such methods. In a formal statement, the President stated: “Evidence that the Axis Powers are making significant preparations indicative of such intentions (is being reported with increasing frequency from a variety of sources.” He said he wanted to make it clear “beypnd all doubt of any of our enemies contemplating resort to such desperate barbarous methods, that acts of this nature, committed against any of the United Nations would be regarded as having been committed against the United States itself, and be treated accordingly.” Mr. Roosevelt declared: “We promise to any perpetrators full and swift retaliation in kind, and I reel obliged now to warn the Axis Armies and Axis peoples in Europe and Asia that the terrible consequences of any use of these inhuman methods on their part, will be brought down swiftly and surely upon their own heads' Any’ use of gas by any Axis Powers, therefore, will be immediately followed by; the fullest possible retaliation upon munition centres, seaports and other jnilitary objectives throughout the whole extent of territory of such Axis country.” (Rec. 10.45) WASHINGTON, June 9. A bulletin issued by the Chemical Warfare Service says: “The United States is prepared to match the ene- ! my in modern effective use of chemical warfare. In contrast with limitations of early methods of releasing gas clouds to drift with the wind to enemy lines, chemical warfare agents can now be employed almost on any place where explosives are used. Bombs, artillery;, ‘mortar shells, landmines, hand grenades and rifle grenades can be filled with destructive chemical materials. Aeroplanes can be fitted with special tanks for effectively spraying various toxic agents. Gas can be laid on enemy positions almost immediately by means of projectiles fired by artillery mortars and projectors. Gas can also be released from cylinders when conditions are particularly favourable, while gas candles and smokepots are other mediums of dissemination.