NAZIS DIVE-BOMB PASSENGER FERRY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 141, 17 June 1941, Page 7

NAZIS DIVE-BOMB PASSENGER FERRY

23 LIVES LOST

Steamer Between Wales And Ireland I'.P.A. antl British "Wireless. Rec. 2 p.m. LONDON, June IG. Dive-bombers sank the Irish ferry steamer. St. Patrick, between Rosslare and Fishguard, killing at least 23 people.

Sixty-six survivors of a crew of 45 and 44 passengers were landed. The captain and nuu-j are believed killed. All the women and children were saved, many through jumping overboard, clinging to rafts until they were picked up by a warship.

Most of the passengers were asleep when four bombs hit the ship, which sank after the boats had been lowered. This is the second Irish ferry that has been lost since the outbreak of war.

The Air Ministry states that strong Bomber Command forces attacked western Germany last night, setting fire to and extensively damaging industrial targets in the Ruhr, Cologne and Hanover. Smaller forces attacked docks at Dunkirk. Fighter Command aircraft bombed aerodromes in occupied France.

Over 1000 tons of high explosives and tens of thousands of incendiary bombs were dropped on the Ruhr in the first three of the four latest night raids by the R.A.F., says the "Daily Express" aeronautical correspondent. "Thus we are implementing the promise that June would see the beginning of a mighty -bombing campaign over Germany."

The R.A.F. has again been active over the Straits of Dover and the French Coast to-day. An Air Ministry communique, describing these activities, states that our fighters carried out a number of sweeps in full strength, and in the late afternoon they escorted bombers of the Coastal Command in an attack on targets at Boulogne.

The communique adds that further reports show that at Boulogne the railway station and a large storehouse were hit by bombs dropped by Coastal Command aircraft. A number of engagements with enemy fighters took place. Two aircraft of the Coastal Command are missing.

In the many combats with enemy fighters which have taken place during extensive operations by the R.A.F., three of our fighters have been lost, but the pilot of one is safe. Seven enemy fighters have been destroyed.

An official communique states that up to eight o'clock this evening no reports were received of bombs being dropped in any part of Britain.