VALIANT MALTA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 May 1941, Page 5

VALIANT MALTA

CONTRIBUTION TO DEFENCE OF EMPIRE TRIBUTE PAID BY BRITISH GOVERNMENT. MORE THAN 300 ENEMY AIR RAIDS (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. May 21. Malta’s great contribution lo the defence oi’ 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 resol lition of 1 he garrison and people of Malta in bailie." says the message.

"As in Britain so in Malta the war has been brought into the very homes of the people, mid is waged against women and children, the aged and infirm. the sick and the dying. Venerable and historic monuments and your cathedrals avid churches are desecrated and defiled by the barbarian. Against these forces of evil you stand arrayed as your fathers before you always stood against the enemies of liberty. “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." 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 lo 44 probably destroyed and 50 damaged. The defences lost 29 fighters but ten pilots were safe. 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.