FIERCE COMBATS OVER LAND AND SEA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 83, 8 April 1940, Page 7

FIERCE COMBATS OVER LAND AND SEA.

LIVELY WEEK-EM. Allies Shot Down At Least Five Nazi Fighters. COUNTER-CLAIMS MADE. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 7. Fierce air combats over land and S ea took place in the week-end. The jjlies shot down at least five German fighters. i French communique says that French fighters got four and the Royal _iir Force one. This is confirmed by a communique from the Royal Air Force headquarters in France, saying that a fighting patrol encountered a large number of Messerschmitts in the neighbourhood of Jletz. Numerous combats were fought at a great height. One ilesserschmitt was! Siot down near Bourlay, on the Moselle, ill the British 'planes returned safely. The German news agency says German fighters engaged 24 Wellington bombers 90 miles north of Sylt this morning, shot down two and forced others to retreat. The Germans suffered no casualties. The Air Ministry later announced that one German 'plane was destroyed and at least one is believed to have been damaged in an engagement over the Xorth Sea this afternoon. "Two of our 'planes have not returned." Said Alarms in the Orkneys. Three air raid alarms, in the morning, afternoon and evening, were sounded in the Orkneys, fighters patrolling the area, but no 'planes were sighted. The German news agency admits "enemy flights at a great height over Heligoland and north-west Germany," and adds that the German Air Force reconnoitred France. A Dornier engaged and eluded four French fighters, thereby demonstrating the inferiority of the French aerial equipment. Raid on Wilhelmshaven. The Air Ministry also announced: "During the afternoon on Thursday a formation of British aeroplanes of "the Bomber Command penetrated the enemy defences in the Jade estuary and successfully reconnoitred the naval base at Wilhelmshaven. "An enemy warship was observed near Wilhelmshaven and was attacked with bombs. Four enemy destroyers were also attacked, and damage is" believed to have been done. "Xo damage or casualties were suffered by the British 'planes, all of which returned to the base safely." The London newspapers of yesterday carried nothing beyond the Air Ministry's account of the raid on Wilhelmshaven. The Berlin news agency says: "The British Air Ministry's announcement of attacks on warships near Wilhelmskven is a complete invention. Only a single aeroplane entered the region of the mouth of the Elbe on Thursday afternoon, and, owing to heavy antiaircraft fire, it could drop only two bombs in the water without aiming at any target."