JOB FOR ROMMEL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 June 1943, Page 3

JOB FOR ROMMEL

COMMAND OF DEFENCES ON MEDITERRANEAN COAST. FIFTY THOUSAND ITALIANS IN CORSICA. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, June 11. Reports from Vichy confirm that Field Marshal Rommel has been chosen to command the defence forces along the western part of the German "Mediterranean Wall," with temporary headquarters in the Riviera, says the "Daily Mail’s” Madrid correspondent. He is now making frantic efforts to or- ‘ ganise the defences. The building of forts, artillery emplacements, and anti-aircraft posts is reported to have been speeded up. but the Mediterranean wall is still far from complete. Fifty thousand Italian soldiers are occupying Corsica and feverishly preparing to resist any Allied invasion attempt, says Algiers radio. Their situation is the more precarious because of the presence in the Corsican mountains of hundreds of French patriots waiting for the first sign of Alied action to leave their caves and attack the Italians.

GALLANT MALTA NOW HAVING ITS REVENGE. MESSAGE FROM THE KING. LONDON, June 11. Malta’s planes are now beginning to have their revenge for the island’s 1600 people killed, 3700 injured and 24,000 buildings destroyed by Axis raids. The people of Malta have received the following message from the King:— “l am sure that the spirits of the people of Malta will be as dauntless in attack as in the dark days of defence.” RELEASEDJBY ALLIES RUSSIAN WAR PRISONERS IN TUNIS. LONDON, June 11. Four hundred Russian war prisoners were released when the Allies took Tunis. The Red Army soldiers were mostly Specialists and technicians whom the Germans brought to Tunisia four months ago to carry out special work. The prisoners crossed Germany and stayed some time in Italy. LIGHT AIRCRAFT ATTACKS ON FACTORIES & TRANSPORT. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.35 a.m.) RUGBY, June 11. The Air Command announced: "Yesterday our fighters destroyed a Macchi 202 over Sicily and fighter-bombers attacked factories at Pazzallo and the Gela aerodrome. Our intruders were over Sicily and South-West-ern Itay last night. Railway sidings, road transport and a train were attacked.” PROMPTLY MET AND ONE DESTROYED. ENEMY FIGHTERS RAIDING MALTA. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.35 a.m.) RUGBY, June 11. A Malta message states that the Island had three alerts yesterday afternoon. During the first, a small number of enemy fighters approached the coast, but were intercepted by Spitfires which destroyed one of them. Heavy anti-aircraft defences engaged the raiders. During the second alert the raiders did not cross the coast, but in the third a small number appearde over the island.