THE PREVIOUS ATTACKS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 38, 25 November 1940, Page 5

THE PREVIOUS ATTACKS.

AERODROMES HEAVILY BOMBED.

SHIPPING BASES RAIDED. LONDON, November 24. The Air Ministry announces that targets in Berlin and in northern Italy were attacked by the Royal Air Force last night. Details are still awaited. The alarm in Berlin lasted from early in the evening till early this morning. Aerodrames, factories, goods yards, and ports were among the targets bombed by the Royal Air Force on Friday and during Friday night. Reporting on these activities, an Air Ministry communique says: “Yesterday aircraft of the Bomber Command made daylight, attacks on the enemy aerodromes at Schipol and Leeeuwarden. Among other targets, they also bombed at factory at Solingcn, in the Ruhr.

“Last night a determined attack was made on the aerodrome of Merignae, near Bordeaux, a base from which the enemy launches attacks on our Atlantic shipping. One of our aircraft is missing.”

The Royal Air Force raiders over Merignae aerodrome had the assistance of weather, and a half moon shone from a cloudless sky while the Bomber Command machines accomplished their 1000 miles return journey. After, the first attack, however, the moon ceased to be of much assistance because the fire., then burning provided adequate light for the following aircraft. The pilot of one machine was able to pick up the glow of the fires while he was still 100 miles v away. During this persistent and successful raid, which reached its highest intensity about 4 a.m., much damage was done to hangars, aircraft,

and the barracks. One pilot said: “We must have .left the-place-in a hideous mess.”,. ■ .. ... • ■

Among , the targets in. Germany on Friday night was the inland port of Duisberg-Ruhoft, which -had • already suffered heavily two nights'-before, and the Krupps synthetic oil works at Wanne, where an attack’ in force took place. ' The effect of Royal Air Force raids on German communications is shown :n a German announcement that civilians must refrain from travelling by rail during the 16-day “Christmas’’ period from December 20 to January 5.

On some rail services travel is forbidden to both civilians and soldiers on leave unless special permission is obtained. • -----

Authoritative Dutch sources say that the German's are manufacturing “British” incendiary bornbs with which to plaster Dutch residential areas after Royal Air Force raids against military targets. The Germans ’ then exhibitfragments in a new effort to convince the Dutch that Britain is bombing civilians.