In Malta, rumours travel fast by word of mouth. Though the Prime Minister has tried to allay fears, Maltese hearts and minds are not entirely persuaded.

Malta’s army and police force are limited in numbers. Thus, in an emergency they certainly cannot defend the whole area of Malta and Gozo.

Looking back in the past, history reveals how invasions occurred: pirates or furbani carried away men and women into slavery. Nothing could stop these marauders. The Maltese had to retreat inland.

The French invasion was accomplished with the help of traitors. I would not suggest that some Maltese may turn traitors but that people may have sympathy with any invader. The ringing of Church bells, as in the insurrection against the French, has lost its purpose.

The British too had feared Italian or French invasions. British strategy to this was the construction of shore defences, ranging from the Victoria lines to scattered pill boxes that are still extant on the shoreline.

Considering how historically the Maltese rose in insurrection against the French, I am sure they would do so again.

I am not suggesting that men and women should be conscripted and trained as in World War II for any eventuality. They are not needed when Malta already has contingents of highly-trained hunters who can kill a moving target no matter how small. But an invasion of our shores could happen again by underhand stratagems.

Hopefully, like the British under Henry V before the attack on Agincourt, hunters would show ‘the mettle of their pasture’.

They come from every town and village. Therefore, they could intervene as snipers until the arrival of army personnel.

I am sure that where the safety of Malta is concerned hunters would follow Henry V’s call: “Once more unto the breach, dear friends once more...”