The Defenders of Malta
Lieut.-General Sir William Dobbie returned to England on Sunday from Malta, where as Governor and Commander-in-Chief he has been the organiser of a defence that has already had a profound influence on the history of the war. His leadership and personality have sustained the splendid morale both of the men in the forces and the civilians. Malta during the last two years has provided a perfect example of the co-ordination of land, sea and air forces, supported by a well-organised civilian population. Its communications have never been cut, like those of General Mac- Arthur in the Philippines ; convoys are able to arrive, and pass under its protecting lee through the narrows of the Mediterranean. But it lies close to the hostile shores of Sicily, and it has been subject to the repeated batterings of the Luftwaffe, as well as the Italian air force. No other place in the world, with the possible exception of London, has received such severe and consistent hammering, and even London did not have to endure it so long. It has been a thorn in the side to the enemy in his Mediterranean warfare. The losses inflicted on German aircraft, both by the marksmanship of the anti-aircraft guns and the fighters based on the island, have been a serious contribution to the weakening of the Luftwaffe. During last Saturday, Sunday and Monday no fewer than 112 enemy aircraft were destroyed or damaged. This is fighting on the Battle of Britain scale, when allowance is made for the size of the area threatened. Lord Gort, Sir William Dobbie's successor, takes over while the battle at any moment may be resumed. He is, indeed, said to have been slightly wounded by a splinter on the day of his arrival.
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