Evening star., 1942-07-01
Ferry Trips Made
With No DAMAGE
To the Wasp
BY the Associated Press.

I0e american aircraft carrier
Wasp, venturing into the mid
Mediterranean battle area, re-
Gently delivered aerial reinforce
ments to Britain's bomb-bat-
tered island of Malta, it was dis
closed officially today.
The Wasp made several ferry trips
without damage to itself or escort
vessels to the British stronghold
fanking Axis supply lines to Africa
The date of the trips was not given
IN the Navy's formal announcement,
but authorities said it was "a few
weeks ago'-apparently about the
time that the Germans and Italians
were pouring peak quantities of sup
plies into Africa for Field Marshal
Erwin Rommels Libyan campaign.
The peak period of Malta's de-
fense was between May and IL,
when at least 1913 Axis air raiders
were destroyed or damaged over the
battered Mediterranean island, and
it seemed possible that this was the
period in which planes from the
Wasp were in action.
During this same period three
British destroyers were sunk by
German dive bombers in the east
ern Mediterranean.
Arrived During Attack.
On one trip the Wasp carried
British fighter aircraft manned by
Raj pilots-deliveries on the other
trips were not identified but prob
ably also were British manned
planes-and they arrived just as the
enemy was attacking, the Navy re-
lated. The new British forces i'm
mediately engaged the enemy planes
which. being surprised by the
strength of resistance, suffered con-
siderable losses"
Thereupon the British fighters
landed hastily at a Malta field, re-
fueled and took to the air again, the
communique said, to engage the
enemy second time within 80
minutes after their arrival over the
island from the Wasp.
THE expertly- timed arrival of re-
enforcement planes on the Wasp
was most fortunate for the heroic
defenders of the British stronghold
and the cause of the United Ma
tons" the Navy asserted.
Malta's Power Destroyed.
Authorities said that obviously be-
cause of the time they were de-
livered the reinforcements were more
directly linked with Britain's efforts
to prevent Marshal Rommel from
building up his armored columns in
Libya than with the current Allied
efforts to save Egypt.
Axis air forces operating from
Sicily had destroyed Malta's striking
power several months ago with the
result that heavily laden conveys
bound for Libya no longer were
slashed to pieces by torpedo and
other planes from the island,
The naturalization of Malta as a,
base from which the British could
cut the Axis lines to Africa is re-
earded here as one of the principal
factors in Marshal Rommel's ability
to bring against the British a con-
siderably greater force than they
had anticipated Conversely, any
STRENGTHENING of Malta would have
worked against Marshal Rommel
and to that extent might even now
influence the course of the campaign
In Egypt.
Text of Communique.
The Navy communique said:
european area:
81. Reinforcements in the form
of airplanes were recently carried
through the Mediterranean to
Malta to aid the British in their
defense of the embattled island.
%. These trips were accomplished
by the aircraft carrier Wasp and
were completed without damage
either to the escort or the Wasp.
"3. During one OF these ferry trips
after British aircraft, manned by
Raj pilots, had been launched from
the Wasp and were in fight over
the island of Malta the enemy at
tackled the island Completely sur
prised by the increased number of
defending fighters the enemy suf-
fered considerable losses
4. The planes which took off
from the Wasp engaged the enemy
over Malta before landing on the
island After landing and hasty re-
fueling at the airdrome they were
again in the air continuing to re-
pei the enemy attack within 30
minutes after arrival.
IS. The eXpertly timed arrival OF
reinforcement planes on the Wasp
was most fortunate for the heroic
defenders of the British stronghold
and the cause of the United Ma
tons"
Nazis Took Drastic Steps.
Speaking of Maltas role yesterday
Admiral Sir Andrew Browne Cum
ningham, former British chief in the
Mediterranean and now a member
of the Allied high command here
said torpedo planes and other attack
craft operating from the island last
fall had been instrumental in CO.
operation with surface ships anC
submarines in sinking up to so pei
cent Of all supply ships which the
AXIS then was trying to send tc
reinforce Field Marshal Erwin Rom
mels forces in Libya.
AS result of this remarkable
cbouino the German HIGH com