SCAPA FLOW RAID.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 134, 18 March 1940, Page 6

SCAPA FLOW RAID.

JUBILANT, GERMAN BOAST.. & (Received This Day, 2 p.m.) ‘ BERLIN, March 17. The Official News Agency states that, the concentration of warships at Scapa Flow was obviously connected with preparations f<|r a-gspecial undertaking. Meanwhile,. German , planes rushed oyer there with ( lightning speed, inflicted considerable losses; despite strong opposition. Tho success of the attack means that the. British must “write off” this base. All defensive measures, which were intensified while British Fleet hid itself in its western haunts,' proved ineffective. Attacks against Scapa Flow must be considered a matter ot routine.

GERMAN SUCCESSES! - ATTACK ON CIVILIANS. ; (Received This Day, ,2.0 p.m.} LONDON, March 17. Germany is resounding with claims of a big success in the Scapa. blow raid, but bumble Stenness folk mourn the death of a neighbour, James Isbister. He. was standing at the door of. Iris home when an escaping enemy plane, dropped a number of bombs, one of which exploded near the Bridge of Waith, killing him and wounding two others and damaging several cottages.. Over 50 High explosive bombs fell on the west mainland area of the Orkneys, also scores of smaller incendiary bombs, one of which set fire to haystacks. -•=' British naval circles state: “Our eastern- and northern bases were always recognised as subjects of ail' attack, blit wo are confident of,giving a good account of ourselves.” “It is significant that only a small portion of the fojce dispatched from Germany J,ook part in the action. Others must have missed the way. “Even the majority of the German planes, actually participating, ' preferred killing and wounding civilians in a village miles from the harbour to facing tho fire from ' the ships and batteries.” a