OVER 1000 VICTIMS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20915, 15 October 1942, Page 3

OVER 1000 VICTIMS

MALTA DEFENCES 60 DOWN IN FOUR DAYS ENEMY ATTACKS FAIL (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) (11 a.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 14. A further outstanding success was scored by Malta’s defenders yesterday when up to 3.30 p.m. our fighters shot down 17 enemy aircraft and damaged many others for the loss of one Spitfire. A Cairo communique recording this adds that an additional enemy bomber was shot down over Malta the preceding night, while two more were destroyed in the battle area of Egypt and another over Sicily. We lost only three aircraft in all these operations, including Malta, where all attacks were broken up before damage could be inflicted. Land forces yesterday report only patrol activity. Our bombers and fighter-bombers were active over the battle area at Ed Daba and Tobruk. At least GO Axis planes have been destroyed and many more damaged over Malta since the large-scale attacks were renewed on Sunday. Canadian Pilot’s Feat Malta has brought down the thousandth enemy raider since the outbreak of war in the Mediterranean It fell soon after dawn yesterday to Pilot Officer G. F. Beurling, a Canadian, who destroyed two other hostile aircraft in the same fight, making lus score’ 26, including 24 over Malta, where he arrived in June. A Cairo message says that South Africans and Americans between them destroyed four enemy aircraft and damaged eight over the combat area to-day. Air activity was on an increased scale and in powerful attacks our fighters and bombers played havoc with enemy transport in the southern sector.

General Rommel appears to be concentrating on getting anti-tank guns instead of tanks across the Mediterranean. confirming the belief that he has been compelled to change his policy as a result oh the Allied air attacks, savs the Cairo correspondent of the Exchange and Telegraph News Agency. Medium and heavy bombers again visited Tobruk on Monday night, attacking shioping and harbeui facilities. A small boat received a direct hit and other bombs burst on the main jetties. A large fire was started in the dock area. Othei targets were anti-aircraft and searchlight batteries at El Daba, where a Tight also attacked transports.