The British on Leros were desperate. Hemmed in by Germans landing from the sea, bombed and strafed by Germans commanding the air, the British defended their lonely little island in the eastern Aegean until they were slow with exhaustion. Their Italian co-belligerents fought with nontraditional bravery. A few audacious British naval craft helped a little. Long-range R.A.F. fighters helped but not enough, from their too-distant bases.
At dawn of the counterinvasion's third day the Germans crept into Alinda Bay. With the aid of paratroopers they occupied the narrow neck of land where...
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