MALTA'S ORDEAL

Waikato Times, Volume 130, Issue 21654, 14 February 1942, Page 8

MALTA'S ORDEAL

MORE THAN 900 RAIDS MORALE REMAINS HIGH STRANGE LIFE ON ISLAND (Official wireless) (Received Feb. 14, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, Feb. 13 A graphic account of Malta’s air raid ordeal was given by an army officer who has just returned from the island. Malta had over 900 alerts since he left. “The first raids were made, of course, by Italians,” he said. “They came over the morning after Italy entered the war, and to my great annoyance straddled my car with a couple of bombs and literally knocked the stuffing out of the back of it. In the early days they really did try to hit military targets. They used to come over at about 15,000 to 17,000 feet, but after a week, thanks to our anti-aircraft fire and fighters, they seldom came in under 22,000 feet. Never Very Accurate “Their bombing was never very accurate and as they flew higher it became quite indiscriminate, doing more damage to fields and civilian property than to Service targets. Our fighters shot down many times their own numbers. The raids became a daily occurrence until December, 1940. “In January, 1941, the Luftwaffe took a hand in things, and to give them their due they meant business. They came down very low to bomb, in spite of heavy casualties. Our garrison had by this time been reinforced, particularly by anti-aircraft artillery and fighters. The barrage the Luftwaffe had to go through was reputed to be the heaviest in the Empire. No wonder it put them off their aim.

Troops’ Reaction "The reaction of our troops to those German attacks was amazing. They could for the first time hit backj and not only hit back but see their small arms fire enter the enemy planes, and not infrequently see the planes crash in a heap of flames and smoke. Our tails were right up. “So it went on until the Germans needed all their air power for the invasion of Greece and Crete and the Italians were left to attack by themselves. They came over chiefly at night and often dropped their bombs in the sea. In each raid the first one to be shot down was the signal for cheering all over the island, and the other planes immediately jettisoned their bombs and made off home as 'quickly as they could. If one got caught in a searchlight it dropped everything. Fortitude of People “The population stood up to these continuous raids with great fortitude and endurance. They carried on more or less normally under very trying conditions. As soon as a raid was over children came running out into the streets collecting all the shell and bomb splinters. A German bullet was much prized. “It is difficult ior people at home to realise the relative situation out there. When the alert sounds at home it may be sounded over quite a large area and the raiders may not even enter that area. In Malta, which is only eight miles wide and ten miles long, the alert means that a raid is definitely coming and bombs will probably fall in that small area. It is fortunate that Malta has so much rock. This is used for building and stands up to blast very well. It is also easy to dig really good air raid shelters in the rock because it can be cut with an axe or pick. There are many tunnels built by the Knights of Malta years ago which have been opened up and furnished with bunks, particularly for the aged and infirm and those who have lost their homes. “By now there are probably enough air raid shelters cut in the rock for the entire population. Up to the time I left Malta it had had over 900 alerts. The total military damage for the thousands of bombs dropped was ridiculously small, and the number of casualties was comparatively few. We all felt that Malta was a real thorn in the Axis flesh. Long may it so continue.”

JAPANESE SEA LOSS

NINETY VESSELS INVOLVED tomclal Wireless) (Received Feb. 14, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, Feb. 13 American and Dutch forces have sunk or damaged 90 enemy ships in the Pacific, according to official figures. American successes are:—Capital ships, one possibly sunk, one damaged; seaplane carriers, one sunk; cruisers, three sunk and one damaged; destroyers, two sunk; submarines, three sunk and one damaged; auxiliaries and transports, seven sunk, five seriously damaged, one damaged; merchant ships, 13 sunk. The Dutch figures are;—Cruisers, three sunk, four seriously damaged, five damaged; destroyers, five sunk, two damaged; submarines, one sunk, one damaged; auxiliaries and transports, 15 sunk, five seriously damaged, three damaged; merchant ships, four sunk, two damaged.

ANZACS INTO BATTLE

STIMULATING STORY TOLD (United Press Assn.- -F.iee. T pi. r.opvrlght) LONDON, Feb. 12 The Daily Mail praises Tahu Hole’s book, “Anzacs Into Battle,” which Messrs Hodder and Stoughton are publishing. “The book is a vivid detailed account of what the Anzacs have done in Greece, Crete, Irak, Syria and Libya. To read it is as healthy and invigorating as a talk with any typical soldier from down under,” says the Daily Mail’s review. Tahu Hole is an ex-New Zealand journalist at present in London.