MERCILESS BUTZ

Grey River Argus, 11 June 1943, Page 5

MERCILESS BUTZ

FOR PANTELLARIA GRAPHIC STORY OF EARLIER BOMBARDMENTS.

(Rec. 7.30) LONDON. June 10. A correspondent on board one or the attacking destroyers describes what he terms a “tremendous, synchronised air and sea bombardment of the Italian island of Pantellaria. This is a delayed account. He writes “There were destroyers charging in within three miles of the island’s coast, with their guns blazing in broad davlight, and also motor torpedo boats rushing almost to the harbour mouth, shooting up Panteilaria’s short-range defence batteries with pom-poms . .and machine-

guns. These daring attacks were the climax of ia ’tremendous synchronised air and sea bombardment. This island which Italy called “Mussolini’s unsinkable aircraft carrier, has endured the greatest battering of any since the close of the Tunisian campaign. This has forced it into ,an unenviable position such as Malta occupied in so many weary months. Cruisers, destroyers and motor torpedo boats composed the bombarding force. The object of the sea bombardment was to test the enemy’s defences. We tested them all right. So swamped .were' tn.ey by fifty minutes of a rain of bombs and shells that, apart from the wisps of fire around . the island s main fortresses, only one twin sixinch battery replied to our ships fire. Gunners in this battery, apparently went to earth, as the guns only fired when the ships’ work was done, and they were turning away. They chose us, as the nearest snip, as a target. They popped one shell near enough to drench our forecastle bridge with spray. None of the ships sustained damage or cas-

ualties.’ , 21 . Describing the whole action detail, the correspondent says: With Pantellaria looking up in a morning mist, and our ships abound us in a powerful array, the captain informed all quarters that the object of the offensive was to test the , defences. He added: ‘The cruiseis will open fire. During a second run, the destroyers will go in as close as possible.’ Officers and men got on with the job of laying the guns as coolly as though preparing for a practice shoot. Over us as we steamed towards Pantellaria Island, there was the whine of squadrons ot American and of British aircraft, and for the whole morning, from dawn onwards, group after grpup of Flyng Fortresses, Mary lands and Mitchells winged across a sunlit sky in non-stop raids against the island. Flashes of our guns, when our ships opened fire stabbed out. over a blue sea. Columns of smoke, earth and sand reared up on the shore of the

island as shells smashed m and around battery positions. Each ship had gun positions as its target, lor half an hour the naval guns sent a tornado of shells upon the island. No single enemy gun replied to the cruisers’ 'fire. Zero hour came to us, and to other destroyers, when the cruisers opened the second round. At full speed we swished through a calm sea till the rocky ridges and sandy foreshore of Pantellaria showed plainly. We plastered shells through a smoke pall. Away to port, we saw intrepid motor boats skimming in towards the harbour. Their tiny guns were popping on gun positions. Almost at the breakwater they swerved and dashed away with a dangerous mission accomplished safely. We were now steaming beam on the coast, firing broadsides of shells and hundreds of pom-pom guns at a range of three miles. Astern, a cruiser shipped in salvoes of projectiles. Suddenly, the smoke blew __ away, and vicious spurts of flame shot up on the low rocky ridge. Seconds passed, and then shells plunged into the sea a mile from us. Again and again the island guns flashed, but, their gunners were unable to get range. With their jobs_ done, our ships turned to the open sea between a crash of guns and a hum •of aircraft engines filled the sky, and looking up, I saw the swift-moving shapes of Flying Fortresses. I counted them. Then I lost tally. Then came a most awe-inspiring. magnificent sight as our air bombardment climbed to a mighty crescendo. The aircraft ignored the enemy s few puffs of flak. The planes swept in in formation, and almost simultaneously they unleashed their cargo of bombs.