Sentinel of Central Mediterranean

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 121, 23 May 1941, Page 7

Sentinel of Central Mediterranean

Malta Graveyard of Axis Airmen 132 RAIDERS DESTROYED; 94 DAMAGED (British Official Wireless.) Received Thursday, 9.20 p.m. RUGBY, May 21. Malta's great contribution to defence is recognised in a message sent through Lord Moyne, which says: “Britain continues to watch with profound admiration the heroic courage and invincible resolution of the garrison and people of Malta in battle. As in Britain so in Malta the war has been brought into the very homes of the people and is waged against women and children, tho aged ana infirm, the sick and the dying. Venerable and historic monuments, your cathedrals and cnureh.es are desecrated and defiled by the barbarian. “Against these forces of evil you stand arrayed as your fathers before you always stood against the enemies of liberty, in the great struggle in which we are engaged Malta is standing guard over the Central Mediterranean in accordance with her traditions, and with the unyielding courage of her race is playing and is destined to play a vital part.

“•Sustained by the justice of our cause aud fortified by the growing might of our armaments and by the support of our Allies and all the free countries throughout the world, we are assured of victory. ’'

Before Italy entered the war her propagandists dwelt on the possible capture of Malta. The island was to have been bombed .into submission and then occupied by the Italian Army. Within the first six days of their entry into the war the Italians made 25 attacks on the island, but Malta struck back fiercely, while the Maltese people, far from being demoralised, ignored the official orders to take cover and cheered as the Italian aircraft were brought crashing down. After the Italians lost at least 33 aircraft and another 25 probably destroyed they called in the aid of the Luftwaffe. German pilots carrying Italians as passengers to show them how the job should have been done displayed their characteristic bravado by waving to the islanders as they flew over to bomb aud machine-gun them. But in the first week they lost nearly 40 machines and 14 probables were recorded in addition. feince then the German High Command ‘ ‘ honoured ’ * Malta by appointing a special officer, Air-General Geisler, to direct the attacks upon the island, and many heavy raids havo been made. One of the most severe attacks began on January 1(3 and lasted three days. It w r as kept up by waves of aircraft, chiefly German, and concentrated mainly upon the harbour of Valeria, where the damaged aircraft-carrier Illustrious was lying. This attack is known to have cost the enemy 39 machines and another 24 probably destroyed. It is estimated that Malta has experienced at least 050 alerts and well over 300 raids by bombers and fighter patrols by day and night. It is stated that up to April 30 British lighters and anti-aircraft guns shot down for certain 132 planes in addition to 44 probably destroyed and 50 damaged. The defences lost 29 fighters but 10 of the pilots are safe. Malta has inevitably suffered severe damage and some of the Island’s historic monuments have been smashed. A direct hit has been made on the magnificent church at Birgu and several other churches, schools, shops and houses have been destroyed. It is estimated, however, that the number of enemy airmen killed exceeds the civilian death roll oi the island.