DIRECTED AGAINST PANTELLERIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 June 1943, Page 3

DIRECTED AGAINST PANTELLERIA

Island Shelled by Warships and Bombed Continuously NO RESPONSE BY GARRISON TO INVITATION TO SURRENDER FEEBLE REPLY BY SHORE BATTERIES TO NAVAL BOMBARDMENT LONDON, June 9. A special communique from North Africa states that yesterday our aircraft dropped leaflets on Pantelleria asking for the unconditional surrender of the island. The Italian garrison did not reply. , The surrender of the island was invited m order to spare its inhabitants unnecessary suffering. Later, planes bombed and warships bombarded the island. This bombing and bombardment will continue until the defenders of the island surrender. The Italians says the garrison of Pantelleria refused to surrender. The Rome radio speaks of overwhelming air and naval forces besieging the island and states that the Axis air force is concentrating its efforts against them. A communique from the Allied headquarters in North-West Africa states: “A force of cruisers and destroyers bombarded Pantelleria yesterday. The results were satisfactory. There was a certain amount of retaliatory fire, but our force suffered neither casualties nor damage. The island was also attacked by our bombers yesterday and on the previous night.” • ABB C. naval correspondent, who was present at the bombardment, said Pantelleria received its greatest pounding yet from bombers and warships. Squadron after squadron of bombers worked a shuttle service, dropping bombs until the whole of the island was enveloped in smoke and dust. As soon as the target area could be seen again, the warships poured salvo after salvo into barracks, harbour buildings and batteries. The cor-, respondent says he saw a great eruption of bursting shells in the target area. More than 2,000 shells were fired, in broad daylight, within easy range of the shore batteries. When the cease fire was given, motor torpedo-boats went right into Pantelleria Harbour and shot up jetties and harbour works. When they came out again, Flying Fortresses went rumbling overhead and marked the climax of the attack, dropping a further quota of bombs, which completely obscured the targets in smoke and dust. Two enemy air attacks made on the fleet were smashed by fighters and only a few bombs were dropped at random. ’