MALTA’S HARBOUR ATTACKED

Southland Times, Issue 24499, 29 July 1941, Page 5

MALTA’S HARBOUR ATTACKED

Axis Attacking Force Wiped Out LONDON, July 27. An attack on Malta was made early on Sunday morning; it was directed against the harbour of Valetta. Not one of the 17 “mosquito craft” used survived. A joint Admiralty, War Office and Air Ministry communique states: “Shortly before 7 a.m. E-boats appeared off the harbour entrance and the fixed defences, manned by the military garrison, at once engaged the enemy. One E-boat blew up on being hit, while four others were destroyed by gunfire. It then appeared that the Eboats were acting as an escort for small torpedo-carrying craft which

tried to break into the harbour. These were heavily engaged by gunfire from the shore defences and eight were either blown up or sunk. None succeeded in entering the harbour. AIRCRAFT IN ACTION “Royal Air Force fighters pursued the remaining E-boats, which were trying to extricate themselves and sank four more and damaged others. Our fighters then encountered enemy aircraft, which were endeavouring to give air support to the retreating enemy. Three enemy aircraft were shot down into the sea. One Royal Air Force fighter was lost, but the pilot was saved. “Reports so far received indicate that the assault on the harbour was attempted by eight small torpedocarrying craft, all of which were destroyed by the defences. The view that none of the assaulting forces survived to report is confirmed by a special Italian communique issued last night. This merely referred to explosions being seen by escorting forces from a distance to seaward.”