The Waikato Times MONDAY, JUNE 14, 1943 PANTELLARIA MAKES HISTORY

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22063, 14 June 1943, Page 2

The Waikato Times MONDAY, JUNE 14, 1943 PANTELLARIA MAKES HISTORY

History has been made with the capture of the island of Pantellaria. It is the first fortress of strength that has been reduced by aerial bombing. Incidentally, it has been taken with less loss of life by the attackers than any other important fortress. Certainly the Navy shelled the island and kept away possible seaborne reinforcements and supplies, but the air forces were very largely responsible for forcing the island to surrender. Pantellaria marks a new milestone in the rapid progress of aerial power. The fact is full of significance to Italy, which on the third anniversary of Mussolini’s declaration of war lost a fortress island which the Duce declared could never be taken. It was in fact taken by a force which suffered negligible casualties and at last marched in under the garrison’s white flag. It will not be forgotten that Germany captured the much larger island of Crete by the use of aeroplanes, but there the circumstances were different. Germany invested Crete with airborne troops who after landing had to fight a garrison which had inferior equpiment and ill-prepared defences, and the Germans suffered very heavily in the process. But because Pantellaria was hammered into surrender by aerial bombing it should not be imagined that Sicily or Sardinia will automatically suffer a similar fate. Pantellaria is a very small island which offered a compact target for concentrated bombing. It v/as overwhelmed because every inch of it could be covered by highexplosive bombs. Sicily is much larger and its complete reduction by aerial bombing might take a much longer time than the Allies can afford to allow. Nevertheless the air force can, it is believed, substantially “soften” Sicily for an invasion. It may be that Sicily is the next island on the list for attention. Elimination of the Pantellaria group has cleared the Allies’ right flank. Stronger aerial opposition can be expected in Sicily, if the Axis is prepared to risk the serious reduction of its air forces. Italy at least can scarcely do less than offer the full scale fo her strength in defence of Sicily, because between the island and the mainland is only a narrow strip of water which would not offer a very serious obstacle if Sicily were occupied. Overwhelming air cover is the secret of success. According to Italian propaganda the Italian fleet is ready to prevent an Allied invasion, but the fleet was conspicuously absent from the battle for Pantellaria. Italian Navy Day was indeed celebrated ingloriously.