R.A.F. RETALIATION FOR GERMAN RAIDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 184, 5 August 1940, Page 7

R.A.F. RETALIATION FOR GERMAN RAIDS.

1000 ATTACKS. 400 Bombs On Germany For One On Britain. AERODROMES AGAIN HIT. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, August 4. The Sunday paper, "News of the World," reports that the Royal Air Force so far has bombed over 100 towns in eastern Germany, carried out over 1000 raids, and dropped nearly 400 bombs in Germany and German-occupied territory for every bomb dropped on Britain. It is officif '.iy etated that Royal Air Force bombers yesterday again harassed aerodromes in France and Holland, including Schipol, Haametede and Abbeville. Last night the K.A.F. raided oil tank's at Rotterdam, oil plants in the Ruhr and also heavily attacked Kiel naval base. Three British 'planes did not return from all these operations. A British official wireless message says the similarity of the daily communiques issued by the Air Ministry regarding R.A.F. attacks on aerodromes in France and Holland is thought toy air circles here to lead the public to minimise their paramount importance because of their guarded and somewhat official repetition. "No Lull in War." It must always be remembered that the German High Command itself claims that there has 'been "No lull in the war," and that the struggle is going on with the greatest intensity. It is certain that the whole question of the success of an attempted invasion of Britain is bound up with the use the enemy is able to make of these air bases. The work of the R.A.F. is of the highest value in the defence of Britain and, as the war progresses, the British people will look back with pride at this matter-of-fact record of R.A.F. achievement*. Further details of R.A.F. efforts show that some of the most important sources of Germany's synthetic oil supply were attacked last night. Since the first attack on Germany's oil supplies, the enemy has been forced to strengthen greatly its ground defences. Last night, besides firing at raiders, many shells were aimed at parachute flares which were dropped to illuminate the target. The raiders were missed, but some of the flares were shot down. Docks at Kiel were located by other aircraft, in epite of poor visibility, and some of the ibomibs set fire to naval buildings. At Husum, west of Kiel, aerodrome buildings were damaged, tarmac hit and; anti-aircraft fire was abruptly stopped. A rear gunner had replied with 200 rounds. Large goods yards in the northern part of Cologne were hit with high-explosive and incendiary bombs by an aircraft which cruised above its objective for about an hour. Aerodromes and seaplane bases were also attacked*

Troops Machine-Gunned. In daylight raids on Saturday, aerodromes at Schipol and Haametede were again attacked. At Abbeville, one of our •bom'bere, following half an hour after the initial attack, bom/bed a stores park and machine-gunned troops and a convoy of lorries from only 50ft. Between Gravelines and Dunkirk, an armoured train was discovered and attacked, and bargee in a canal east of Bourbourg, near Gravelinee, were struck with salvoes of bomlbs. Fewer enemy fighters were encountered than on the previous day, but the ground defences were strong and accurate.