HEAVY DAMAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 297, 14 December 1940, Page 9

HEAVY DAMAGE.

IN RAIDS ON KIEL. Two Battleships Hit In July Raids. British Official Wireless. (Reed. 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, Dec. 13. Aerial photographs taken by the Royal Air Force immediately after a raid by British bombers on Kiel early in July have now been released, and show incontrovertibly the severe damage done to the enemy war machine. An examination by experts revealed that shipping, and at least two important objectives ashore, were definitely damaged. One picture shows the water in the harbour partially covered with a substance which probably emanated from pipelines broken by the bomb attack. The heaviest damage ashore was caused to the main power station in the old imjicrial yards, now known as the "Deutsche Werke yards." and to a torpedo and gun store of the naval arsenal. The photographs show the power station roof undergoing extensive repair, while in a store roof a large gaping hole is directly in the centre. 'I'lie size of the hole suggests that considerable damage w« done to the delicate equipment inside the' building. The battle-cruiser Seharnliorst is shown in the: floating dock, and experts consider that the foremost control tower was damaged. In dry dock is the pocket battleship Lutzou—originally known as the Deutschland. This ship, which had been damaged by the submarine Spearfish in the Skager-Rak. was believed still to be undergoing repairs in dry dock, and it is reasonable to assume that she was further damaged in the July air raid. ALLIED AIRMEN. MAKING RAPID PROGRESS. British Official Wireless. (Reed. 10.30 a.m.) RUGBY. Dee. 13. An increasing number of Poles, Czechs. Frenchmen and IVlgians are finishing their training on British types of aircraft and are beginning to take part in air fighting. They are generally veterans compared with the Royal Air Force fighter pilots, whose average age is between 2o and 28. Many have had long service in commercial flying and have also fought with distinction in Poland and France. Instructors and senior British officers •ave been astonished at their swift nogress. For example a Polish squadon, which is now taking part in the Wence of London, began training in 'urricanes in July and a second in ngust. Yet in early August, when eir Commander-in-Chief, General korski, visited them, they put up a splay of formation flying which was 'most perfect. Later in August when i'v went out on their first patrol they it down a Junkers SB. The spirit of these pilots is shown the experience of one who was out a. training flight when his engine :ed and caught fire. He came down flames, severely burning bis bands keeping his hold on the stick, which abletl him to make a controlled laiult. Even so he would have been trapd in the blazhig machine if it had ■ t hit an obstacle and thrown him out feet clear.

A farmer and other helpers rushed up 1 were dragging him to safety when ammunition started exploding. . bough barely conscious, the pilot inled on bis rescuers lying on the und until all the ammunition had V off. CHEERING CROWDS. I KING VISITS BIRMINGHAM. i LONDON". Dec. 13. I,'-ss than 12 hour- after the third heavy raid on tiie Birmingham area, the King toured the city, pickiu-j hi- way between piles fit" rubble, thecrin'j <-i •. w I - thronged at his heels. He talked to many who had been bombed out of their homes or buried for hours. At one point the King talked to a woman, aged SO. whose hou-e was demolished, says a British Official W'ire-!e-s message. •"Were you in the house when it was bombed?"' asked the King, j "No, I was in a shelter with my hus- | band and was not frightened." she said. [ "My husband is still in hospital with a ' fractured skull."