DEFENCE OF MALTA

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 120, 23 May 1941, Page 6

DEFENCE OF MALTA

OF EPIC DIMENSIONS

ENEMY AIR ATTACKS FOILED

LOSSES INFLICTED

RUGBY, May 21

Malta's great contribution to the defence of the Empire is recognised in a message sent through the Colonial Secretary, Lord Moyne. "Britain continues to watch with profound admiration the heroic courage and invincible resolution of the garrison and people of Malta in battle," says the message.

"As in Britain so in Malta the war has been brought into the very homes of the people, and is waged against women and children, the aged and infirm, the sick and the dying.

"Venerable and historic monuments and your cathedrals and churches are desecrated and denied by the barbarian. Against these forces of evil you stand arrayed as your fathers before you always stood against the enemies of liberty.

STANDING GUARD

"In the great struggle in which. we are engaged Malta is standing guard over the central Mediterranean in accordance with her traditions, and with the unyielding courage of her race is playing and is destined to play a vital part. Sustained by the justice of our cause, fortified by the growing might of our armaments, and by the support of our allies and all the free countries throughout the world, we are assured of victory."

Before Italy entered the war her propagandists dwelt on the possible capture of Malta. The island was to have been bombed into submission and then occupied by the Italian army. Within the first six days of their entry into the war the Italians made 25 attacks on the island. But Malta struck back fiercely, while the Maltese people, far from being demoralised, ignored official orders to take cover, and cheered as Italian aircraft were brought crashing down.

After the Italians had lost at least 35 aircraft and had another 25 probably destroyed, they called in the aid of the Luftwaffe. The German pilots, carrying Italians as passengers to show them how the job should be done, displayed characteristic bravado by waving to the islanders as they flew over to bomb and machine-gun them. But in the first week they lost nearly 40 machines and probably 14 more. THE GERMAN OFFENSIVE. Since the German High Command "honou<red" Malta by appointing a special officer, Air General Geisler, to direct the attack? upon the island, many heavy raids have been made. One of the most severe attacks began on January 16 and lasted for three days. It was kept up by waves of aircraft, chiefly German, and concentrated mainly upon the harbour of Valetta, where the damaged aircraft-carrier Illustrious was lying. This attack is known to have cost the enemy 39 machines, with another 24 probably destroyed. It is estimated that Malta has experienced at least 650 alerts as well as more than 300 raids by bombers and fighters by day and night. It is stated that up to April 13 the British fighters and anti-aircraft guns had shot down for certain 132 planes in addition to 44 probably destroyed and 50 damaged. The defence lost 29 fighters, but 10 pilots were saved. Malta has inevitably suffered severe damage. Some of the island's historic monuments have been smashed. A direct hit was made on the magnificent church at Birgu and several other churches, schools, shops, and houses have been destroyed. It is estimated, however, that the number of enemy airmen killed exceeds the civilian death-roll of the island.— B.O.W.