BIG AIR BATTLE

Waikato Times, Volume 130, Issue 21689, 27 March 1942, Page 3

BIG AIR BATTLE

FIGHTS OVER MALTA GERMAN PILOTS RATTLED RAIDERS SHOT DOWN (Official Wireless) (Received March 27, 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, March 26 In one of the biggest air battles ever fought over Malta Spitfires and Hurricanes yesterday afternoon shot out of the sky a formation of 30 JUST dive-bombers. At least half did not return home or landed riddled with cannon shell splinters and machinegun bullets, states the Air Ministry news service. Flying at about 7000 feet, the enemy bombers zig-zagged down from Sicily to attack a ship lying off the coast. They came in pairs. Stepped above them were the usual protecting Messerschmitts. For days the Luftwaffe had tried to silence the island’s lighter defence. That they had failed was demonstrated yesterday afternoon. It was just the chance for which the Spitfire and Hurricane pilots had been waiting. Before the Stukas had a chance to dive on the ship British fighters swooped on them breaking up the formation. So rattled were the German pilots that all the bombs fell wide and the ship did not sustain damage from a near miss, and in spite of the Messersch--1 mitts at the end of a whirlwind battle [ lasting 15 minutes the British fight- ' ers were unscathed. The enemy lost two Messerschmitt 1 109 fighters. One JUB7 dive-bomb--1 er was destroyed and six JUB7’s were ’ probably destroyed. Eight JUB7’s were seriously damaged. r There is good reason to believe ’ that several dive-bombers crashed ; into the sea, but the British pilots, . who were outnumbered, were so busy engaging in combat that they had no j time to folow each of their adver- , saries down. A short while later the Luftwaffe ! sent over a single formation of 30 JUB7’s to attack shipping in the , Grand harbour. The enemy pilots had to run the gauntlet of intense ’ anti-aircraft harbour barrage and ; many were deterred and a large , number of bombs fell harmlessly in ’ the water. ANDAMAN ISLANDS OCCUPIED BY JAPANESE WITHDRAWAL OF BRITISH . (United Press Assn.—E h'r. Tel. CoDyriirht) LONDON, March 25 A communique issued in New i Delhi and quoted by the British official wireless states: “The Andaman Islands, in the Bay of Bengal, were occupied by the Japanese on March 23. Our forces were withdrawn some days previously. It was also found possible to evacuate a considerable proportion of the population of the islands, including women, children and a number of convicts.” The islands have been used by the Indian Government as a penal settlement for nearly a century. As the result of the capture of the Andamans the Japanese have achieved a gain of first-rate importance, says the military correspondent of the Daily Express. Barely a battalion of Indian troops, with British officers and non-commissioned officers were garrisoned throughout the entire group, on which there were no important fortifications. The Nicobar Group, to the. south of the Andamans, officially form part of the area administered by the one commissioner, adds the correspondent, for which reason it is presumed that it, also, has been evacuated. It would in any event be indefensible. Because of this dangerous threat, says the correspondent, Ceylon must be held at all cost, otherwise -the protection of our supply lines will be wellnigh impossible. Our ships must be based on Trincomalee to challenge the Japanese ships which sooner or later must be expected in the Indian Ocean. LABOUR’S ASSURANCE BRITAIN AND AUSTRALIA (Official Wireless) (Received March 27, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, March 26 Sir Walter Citrine cabled the secretary of the Australasian Council of the Trades Union Federation: “The British Trades Union Congress is profoundly aware of the dangers threatening the Australian commonwealth. It is keenly appreciative of the long-demonstrated Arm resolve of the Australian people to defend their liberties, and sends assurances of fraternal solidarity with the Australian workers. "It expresses a confident belief that the Australian nation will steadfastly persist in the common task of throwing back the invader and carrying on the fight until victory is won over the forces of aggression.” WAR CONTRACTS HELP FOR SMALL BUSINESSES (Uiiltwl Press Assn.—Elee. Tei. copyrient) (Received March 27, 1 p.m.) WASHINGTON, March 28 Mr Roosevelt, by executive order has authorised the financing of war contracts for small businesses by guaranteed loans. The War and Navy Departments and the Maritime Commission may enter into contracts with the Federal Reserve Bank or other financial institutions guaranteeing against loss of principal or interest for financing war output by small firms. The White House statement said that high officials expressed the opinion that this order would greatly speed war production of small businesses and sub-contractors generally. OFFER TO LINDBERGH POSITION IN BOMBER PLANT (United Pres? Assn.—Eler. Tel. Copyright) NEW YORK, March 25 A message from Detroit says that Mr Henry Ford offered Mr Charles Lindbergh a position in a bomber plant when Mr Ford, Mr Lindbergh and others inspected the plant yesterday. Mr Lindbergh has returned to Washington and is considering Mr Ford’s proposal. Shelled and Sunk.—A United States Navy communique states: The United States coastguard cutter Aracia was shelled and sunk, presumably by an enemy submarine of the tender class providing services j aids to navigation. All personnel aboard the Acacia were rescued. I There were no casualties. i