MOST DEVASTATING RAID ON HAMBURG

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 106, 7 May 1942, Page 7

MOST DEVASTATING RAID ON HAMBURG

HEAVIEST BOMBS

Offensive "Getting Under Germany's Skin" I".P.A. and BritisH Wireless. Rec. 1.30 p.m. LONDON, May 6. According to the Berlin correspondent of the Stockholm Dagbladet the R.A.F. raid on Hamburg was the most devastating the city has experienced. The heaviest bombs were used.

It is believed in London that the British bombing policy is getting under Germany's skin. There has been, lately, a regular broadcast chorus in" English from German stations appealing to the humanitarian feelings of Britishers and threatening reprisals.

Though the viewpoint of the Air Ministry the recent '"Baedeker" raids do not fall within the category of reprisals, the view held in London is that Hitler had no desire to embark on fresh bombings of Britain at present in order to conserve the Luftwaffe for . the coming offensive against Russia, but the British raids were forced on him to satisf3' German opinion.

The Home Secretary, Mr. Herbert Morrison, addressing' civil defence personnel at Manchester, said Goebbels' outburst against the R.A.F. bombing... of Rostock and Lubeck were manufactured propaganda put out •to < deceive and mislead world opinion' and our own. "The more fuss he made about civilian hardship," he said, "the more I began to suspect really military damage. Let the good work go on."

The Air Ministry communique estates: :*'Last night our bombers attacked industrial objectives at Stutt?gart and other targets in southern .Germany. The docks at Nantes were ialso bombed, while bombers and ! fighters attacked aerodromes in the rLow Countries and northern France. Four of our bombers are missing."

This morning and again early this afternoon British fighters made sweeps over northern France. A squadron of fighters also escorted Boston' bombers, which attacked the .power station at Caen. One enemy sfighter' is known to have been destroyed and one of our fighters is missing.

Early to-day a few enemy aircraft dropped; bombs at a place on the coast in ? south-east England. There ■was a small number of casualties and some damage. Later in the 'morning * two enemy aircraft at■tacked a* place on the south-west Tcoast of . England and a small number of casualties were reported. When the American Air Force .units go into action against the Germansfrom British bases they will work according to a joint strategical plan which United States : authorities will assist in framing. United- States commanders will also collaborate regarding tactics to be adopted under the plan. The United States authorities asked for this 'arrangement, of which the British fully approved.