RUINS OF MALTA

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24270, 11 May 1942, Page 6

RUINS OF MALTA

RUTHLESS DESTRUCTION UNDERGROUND SHELTERS (Reed. 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 9 A press correspondent at Malta reports: "1 have just toured the island and words do not exist to convey a picture of what has happened there as a result of the air raids, so I will try figures instead. The following have been destroyed or damaged: 15,<300 houses, iu which a block of flats counts as one house; 70 churches, 18 convents and nunneries, 10 theatres, eight hotels, 22 schools, eight hospitals, eight of the principal clubs, five of the principal banks, and ;*8 other public buildings, many of which were world-famoys. "Seventy-five per cent of the houses of Valletta have been destroyed or damaged, and over 75 per cent of the buildings iu the most populated areas are so smashed that complete rebuilding will be necessary. Hardly a hamlet all over the island has not been hit. The miracle is that the casualties are so low —1104 killed, 1316 seriously injured and 1299 slightly injured. This is chiefly due to the effectiveness of the underground shelters." The Lord Mayor of London has sent £7OOO to Malta for tho relief of distress. ARRIVAL IN LONDON LONDON, May 10 Major-General Sir William Dobbie, accompanied by his wife and daughter, arrived in London by air to-day, after having resigned as Governor and Com-mander-in-Chief at Malta.