ITALIAN RAIDS ON MALTA

Southland Times, Issue 24165, 29 June 1940, Page 6

ITALIAN RAIDS ON MALTA

Civilian Casualties Reported

(Received June 28, 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 27.

A War Office communique referring to the raids on Malta yesterday states that military objectives were undamaged, but there were some civilian casualties.

An official communique issued at Nairobi says the Italians carried out further air raids on British Moyale and Wajir yesterday and today. Thirty bombs were dropped, but there was no damage or casualties. Twenty-three civilians were killed in the most severe of yesterday’s five air raids. A bomb hit a bus full of passengers of whom the majority were killed. A Royal Air Force communique issued in Cairo states that in Malta’s five air raids yesterday 12 civilians were killed and several were wounded. Little damage was done. The General Headquarters of the Italian Armed Forces in a communique states: “Our bombing aeroplanes have successfully flown over Malta again, hitting in destructive action naval objectives. All our aeroplanes returned. In North Africa, repeated aerial actions occurred against enemy warehouses and motor-trucks. All our aeroplanes returned. “Units of our fleet bombarded the British base at Solium in Egypt with considerable effectiveness. Enemy air raids over Massawa and Assab did not achieve any results.

SAFE RETURN OF AIR CREW ’ REMARKABLE EXPLOIT IN RAID ON ENEMY (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, June 27. An exploit marked by extraordinary skill and endurance on the part of a British bomber crew has now been made public. During a recent night raid on North-West Germany a Royal Air Force bomber encountered and shot down a Messerschmitt 109 after two attempts had been made to prevent the British aircraft from reaching its target. In the first attack shells from the enemy’s cannon-gun cut the inter-communication system and wounded the wireless operator and observer. The pilot, however, was unaware of what had happened to the crew and continued to run up towards the target. Within minutes the enemy fighter again attacked. This time the pilot spotted his adversary and turned violently to port. In a moment the enemy machine became out of control and dived down to the ground. After this encounter the pilot returned to the target and bombed it. A few seconds later the starboard engine, hit in the duel with the enemy fighter, caught fire but the fire was soon put out. The aircraft had been hard hit and off the Scot-

tish coast the pilot gave the crew the choice of bailing out by parachute k or of taking the risk of coming down ■in the sea. The crew was united in its determination to carry on. By now one engine had failed, but the pilot struggled on with the other towards the English coast. On reaching it the engine power proved insufficient to lift the aircraft over a cliff. It therefore turned and limped along close inshore. Eventually a landing was made on the beach. Fortunately the tide was out and the aircraft came down in shallow water. The crew was saved and the aircraft was soon salvaged.

SOCIAL INSURANCE IN BRITAIN

(Received June 28, 6.30 p.m.) (British Official Wireless) ' RUGBY, June 28.

War-time preoccupations have not prevented the Government from making a further improvement in the British social insurance system. A Bill presented to Parliament by the Minister of Labour (Mr Ernest Bevin) provides for an increase in the unemployment insurance benefit already announced and also extends the scope of the scheme from the beginning of September to 400,000 black-coated workers earning between £250 and £420 a year. The step has been taken particularly in view of the temporary unemployment of men and women in occupations affected by the changeover, from normal to war industry.

COXSWAIN DISMISSED FROM LIFEBOAT

(Received June 28, 6.30 p.m.)

LONDON, June 27.

The coxswain and motor mechanic of the Hythe lifeboat was dismissed from the lifeboat service after his refusal to take the boat across the Channel to assist in the Dunkirk evacuation.