PLANES RECALLED FROM CHANNEL BASES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 January 1941, Page 5

PLANES RECALLED FROM CHANNEL BASES

German Air Assistance Sought in Mediterranean PARTICULARS OF HEAVY TOLL TAKEN BY R.A.F. SUGGESTIVE EVIDENCE OF AXIS CONCERN The Italians have recalled all of their bombers and fighters which have been raiding Britain from German bases on the Channel coast, a 8.8. C. broadcast reports, and have called for German air assistance in the Mediterranean. The arrival of German bombers and pilots to take part in the offensive over the Mediterranean is admitted.

An order of the day issued by the Italian Chief of the Air Staff states that Germany will participate in the naval and air struggle over the Mediterranean, “where the enemy has concentrated his forces.”

In London, the fact that the Italians have had to withdraw Aheir bombers and seek German aid is taken to suggest that the Axis at present is more concerned to prevent an Italian collapse than to attempt a decisive blow at Britain. Up to December 26 last, the Royal Air Force had destroyed 426 Italian planes in the Mediterranean zone, in addition to a considerable number wrecked on the ground. In the same period only 75 R.A.F. machines were lost. Since the British offensive began in Libya three weeks ago, over 200 Italian planes have been shot down, against a loss of twenty British machines, the pilots of many of which were saved.

On the two occasions on which the Italians tried to make daylight attacks on Britain, they suffered disastrous losses. On November 11, the R.A.F. shot down thirteen Italian bombers, and twelve days later 7 Italian fighters were destroyed over the Straits of Dover. Not a single British machine was lost in these battles.