Malta and Bataan
Tobruk had its months of glorious and invaluable resistance, and the Bataan peninsula in the Philippines is still carrying on the epic struggle which has made it famous'; but in remember- ing them we should give equal praise to the island fortress which has stood up to an even longer ordeal, and has stoutly resisted the most formidable attacks by air and sea. Malta has been a thorn in the side of the enemy ever since Italy came into the war. It lies midway between southern Italy and the Libyan mainland, a target within easy range of bombers based on Italian of Sicilian aerodromes. Again and again it has been subjected to merciless bombardments, and recently the attacks have been intensified ; but the military and civilian population have re- ceived them with sang froid, and the enemy have been severely punished both by the land and air defences. In a spirited broad- cast last Monday, the Governor, Sir William Dobbie, called on them to persevere and continue to endure their long ordeal in their own interests, and in the interests of the Empire. He was abundantly justified in reminding them that the employment against Malta of a considerable air force was depriving the enemy of aeroplanes urgently needed for the Russian and Libyan fronts. Malta has been in the front line for nearly two years; and her active offensive-defensive has kept no mean force of the enemy busy during the whole of that period. She has helped the Fleet to hold the Mediterranean, and has done much to deny reinforcements to Libya.
