HANOVER HAMMERED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 227, 24 September 1943, Page 3

HANOVER HAMMERED

Concentrated 30-minute R.A.F. Raid HUNDREDS OP GIANT BOMBERS British Official Wireless Rec. 1 p.m. RUGBY, Sept. 23. An R.A.F. raiding force of hundreds of planes, including many four-engined giants, made a highly concentrated 30-minute blitz on Hanover last night. There was heavy opposition by enemy fighters waiting for our bombers far out and also over the target. High above the bombers German planes dropped flares to help the Messerschmitts and Junkers waiting for a chance to pounce. German ground gunners played a minor role. Several German night fighters were shot down. Other R.A.F. bombers attacked Oldenburg, west of Bremen, and Emden, while fighters attacked airfields in Germany and Holland. Twenty-six bombers and one fighter failed to return. United States Eighth Air Force Flying Fortresses, escorted by Thunderbolts, this afternoon attacked docks and shipyards at Nantes for the second time to-day, and Marauders, escorted by Spitfires, attacked the airfield of Beau-vais-Tille.

GERMAN VANDALISM

SPOIIiATION OF UKRAINE Rcc. noon. LONDON, Sept. 23. The swiftness of the Russian advances in the Ukraine has prevented the deportation of thousands of inhabitants. The Red Army everywhere along the front is encountering columns of peasants herded along the sides of roads along which the Germans retreated. The Germans poured fuel over the grain fields and set fire to them, polluted wells by throwing in carcases of cats and dogs, and even bodies of peasants whom they had executed.

MARTIAL LAW IMPOSED

CLASHES IN HANKOW Rec. 1.30 CHUNGKING, Sept. 23. Martial law has been imposed at ; Hankow because of numerous clashes between Japanese soldiers and Chinese puppet police. Domei News Agency stated that Formosa inhabitants had been made liable for compulsory military service. !|

LONG TOUR ENDS

MRS. ROOSEVELT IN V.S.A

Rec. 1.30 SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 23. | Mrs. Roosevelt has arrived here | 11 in Australia.