MYSTERY RAID.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 10, 12 January 1940, Page 7

MYSTERY RAID.

BATTLE OVER SYLT.

Air Ministry Says No R.AiF.

'Planes Were There.

CONFLICTING REPORTS. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 1t.30 u.rt.) LGXDON, January 11. The mystery of the Sylt air raids oil Wednesday deepens as Danish reports confirm the fact that a large number of 'planes were there until 4 p.m., despite the Air Ministry's statement that no British 'planes were in the area after 1 a»in. Reports that the Royal Air Force continuously raided Sylt and engaged ill a large-scale battle with Messersehmitts during the daylight hours are without foundation, according to the Air Ministry. but all the morning papers give pl'intiindlice to accounts of the raids aiul further ove-witnesses' stories alleging that a big battle oC.'ilrred. Causeway Cat. A Danish policeman says he watched the batile. Possibly 100 'planes were engaged, Eyewitnesses on t'ie border between Germany aiid Denmark declare that the Hindenbnrg causeway wa6 completely cut at one point. Unofficial comment in London suggests that the damage Inay be due to "other causes/' Repairs to the causeway permitted resumption of rail traffic during the afternoon. Further heavy aircraft activity over Sylt was reported last night by the Copenhagen "Berlinske Tidehdes." The Air Ministry announced that "in reference to numerous reports of intense air activity alld bombing in the region of Sylt during yesterday no R.A.Fi aircraft were in this area* after approximately one o'clock on Wednes' day morning, - ' says a British official wireless message. "As already announced, there was ail air engagement far out to sea, but the Air Ministry has no knowledge of events which would account for the reports referred to." Battle Over German Base. It is believed 50 British and German aeioplalies took part in an engagement near the German air base on the island of Sylt, off the German coast, north - east of Heligoland, said an earlier taessage. Royal Air Force "security patrols," which watch the Heligoland Bight, dropped bombs on Sylt as early as 1 a.m. A major battle began over the island at 6 a.m., when anti-aircraft guns cannonaded for two hours. n The cannonade was resumed at 9 a.m., when German fighters went Up, and guns roared continuously until 12.30 p.m. A new outburst, intermingled With bomb explosions, began at 2.30 p.m. and con tinued until four o'clock. The objectives of the British attack included the Ilindenburg Causeway, on which tilefe is a strategic road and" railWay for the transport of supplies from the mainland to the air base. Three bombs landed on or near the causeway. Ballet-Riddled 'Planes. The German radio announced that German aeroplanes encountered nine British bombers at 1 p.m. and shot down three, there being no German casualties; but Denmark reports that two bulletriddled German aeroplanes made forced landings in Denmark. One German pilot said he had been '"dog-fighting" all the afternoon.

Another aeroplane landed in Belgium and two flyers were interned.

A Berlin communique repeats the claim that the defence forces shot down three Bfitteh bombers, and a fourth jwfc3 badly damaged. One German crashed.