Evening star., 1942-04-19
Malta Defenders
Shoot Down AVERAGE
OF ) Planes Per Day
Axis Expected to
Make Sea Attacks
After Futile Air Ruids
By BLAIR BOLLES.

DIV bLAlh DULLES.
The defenders of Malta, England's
central Mediterranean island bas-
tion just 20 minutes by air from
Italian soil, have shot down LOG
Axis planes since March IA, British
officials here disclosed yesterday.
This is an average of three a day.
Allied authorities look for Ger
many and Italy to concentrate sea
and air forces soon In a desperate
attempt to knock Malta-an island
miles by 10-out of the war. This
Is one of the tasks where the Axis
would find the French feet of enor-
nous value
Up to now Malta has resisted in
domitably in one of the heroic epics
of the war an almost ceaseless
pounding from the air, which has
destroyed many of its churches,
ruined thousands of its homes,
wrecked part of its harbor and lev
eled hills The Axis has tried also
to besiege the island from the sea,
but the convoys are getting through
to 1t.
Malta's continued use as an air
and sea base for the Allies hampers
the development of Axis plans for
vigorous strike at the Near East
Malta is q raiding base against
Axis Libya- bound shipping and an
air striking base against Italy, 1t
is so miles from Cicily and within
relatively easy range of important
northern Italian industrial centers
The courage of the 265 900 inhab-
itants of Malta, which has had 1000
air alerts since the wars beginning,
has been so outstanding that
the British government last week
awarded the King George v Medal
to the populace for extraordi-<ry
civilian heroism.
Governor Receives Medal.
The medal was received for the
people by the Governor and COM
mander in chief of the island, 1t.
Gen. Sir George Sheldon Dobbie,
whose religious disposition and
lighting ability have won him the
nickname of oliver Cromwell"
Malta had its first bombing, by
Italy'S Regia Aeronautica, IL hours
after MuSSolini went to war. II Duce
told Italy then that the island could
be taken in four days. Almost in
cesSant air battering since then has
failed to shake the islands resist
ance. Attempts of the Italian Navy
to take it from the sea have been in
vain.
The Axis assault against Gen.
Dobbie'S baStion has grown in in
tensity during the last month. when,
on one day, $50 bombers and fight
ers took part In one attack. This
aerial offensive against Malta, which
holds in operation on the Mediter-
ranean planes that otherwise could
be used against Russia, is directed
by Field Marshal Albert Kesselrigg.
Most of the hits scored from
Malta on the Luftwaffe are the
work of the anti-aircraft batteries.
The small size of Malta makes its
defense difficult because the whole
island bears the brunt of every raid.
but at the same time this small
size Is trial for the Axis. The
attacking planes must all converge
over a narrow area, which simplifes
the gunnery work of the defenders.
r. A. F. Spitfires and Hurricanes
supplement the anti-aircraft opera
tions. The aerial visitors to the
island are usually Messerschmitt
l09s, Junkers BIS and Junkers 88s.
A few waves of Stukas have been
sent against Malta to dive bomb the
Grand Harbor at Valetta, important
seat OF Central Mediterranean naval
operations for the British feet. Few
Italian planes are sent against
Malta any more.
X. A. F. Stays on Island.
Air Vice Marshal Hugh LLOYD.
private in the World War and now
air officer commanding the Central
Mediterranean, is in charge of the
r. A. F. activities based on Malts.
Some highly placed Allied military
men thought month ago that the
planes would have TO be withdrawn
from Malta, so harsh was the Luft-
waffle attack. Marshal Lloyd has
kept his planes there.
The problem of keeping Malta in
ammunition for its defense and for
the r. A. F. raiding has confronted
the British with one of their most
difficult Mediterranean tasks. Rear
Admiral Philip L. Wan, R. N, has
received q knighthood for getting a
convoy through to Malta from Alex
| andria.
British and Maltese today are
tunneling out 500 new chambers in
the bedrock Of Malta, which has
been honeycombed with 5000 under
ground paSSageways since the
Middle Ages, when the island be-
longed to the Knights of St. John
The existence OF these tunnels,
which make superior AFRAID shell
ters and storehouses safe from the
destruction Of air raids. has served
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