R.A.F. ATTACKS KIEL

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23318, 2 May 1941, Page 9

R.A.F. ATTACKS KIEL

Objectives in Berlin Bombed EMDEN ALSO RAIDED (Received May 1, 11 p.m.) (U.P.A.) LONDON, May 1. The naval base of Kiel was the main target of Royal Air Force bombers in raids On Germany last night. Objectives in Berlin, Hamburg, and Emden 1 were also attacked. There are no details of these raids yet. Further details of Tuesday night’s heavy raid on Mannheim have been released by the Air Ministry news service. The first bombers over dropped flares which illuminated the Rhine and enabled the pilots to pick out their targets with high explosive bombs. Incendiaries left fires to guide later flights to the centre of the city. The American-built Havoc fighterbomber made raids on three enemy aerodromes in France and caught German raiders returning from Britain. As the enemy machines landed sticks of high explosive and incendiary bombs fell across the landing field. In daylight on Tuesday aircraft Pf the Bomber Command, with a fighter escort searched the French and Belgian coasts for enemy shipping. They

found a convoy hear Osteftd and a ship of 6000 tons was set on are. Another ship was claimed as damaged. The Ships were also machine-gunned and the guns of the largest ship ate believed to have been disabled, as they ceased firing before the attack was over. Several Messerschmitt 109’s came in to drive off the British aircraft, and during a general engagement at least one was damaged by a Royal Air Force bomber., , Near the isle of Bamouic, southwest of the Channel islands and a few miles from the coast of France, a supply ship of 1000 tons was successfully attacked by other aircraft from a very low level. Off the coast of Norway, attacks were made on escorted supply ships. Diving to less than 200 feet, two aircraft dropped bombs on the largest Ship, which, was between 4000 and 5000 tons, and immediately, after the bombs had exploded the ship was well alight. She made a quick turn towards the land, and It is believed that she was severely, damaged, - perhaps beyond repair. . , In the course pi Tuesday's daylight operations attacks were made ;on other ships off the Norwegian coast. ,- , An Air Ministry communique States that from these, daylight operations two Royal Air Force bombers and one fighter are missing. RAIDS ON SLIGHT SCALE ENEMY ATTACKS ON BRITAIN HEAVY, DAMAGE IN PLYMOUTH (Received; May l, U p.m.) (U.P.A.) LONDON, May 1. Enemy air activity over Britain last night was on a very slight scale. A few aircraft crossed the north-east coast but there are no reports of damagLittle enemy activity was reported in daylight and there were no reports of bombs being dropped. , Eight German bombers were stroyed over Plymouth on Tuesday night, when the town was raided tor the fifth time In nine days. One raider was chased back to ita base in northern France and shot down as-it was about to land. ' The Mayor of Plymouth described Plymouth as the worst “blitzed’' town in England. He said that many of the streets were just a desert of rubble and dust. . ~ ’ . The first wave of raiders arrived over Plymouth at nightfall, and the attack lasted for many hours without a lull.' Oil bombs were followed by high explosives. Many merely tore up the ruins of previous attacks, [but numbers of dwellings were demolished, causing heavy casualties. An old people’s home was severely damaged. A German communique states that Cardiff. Lowestoft, and Ipswich were attacked in addition to Plymouth. Little enemy activity oyer Britain was reported 1 in daylight. No- bombs were reported to have been dropped. Eighty-eight German machines were shot down over Britain in April. This was a record, the previous highest number being 47 in March. London had fewer air raid warnings than in any month since the intensive air warfare began. Altogether > the capital had 23 air raids and on 18 nights there was no alarm. The Australian Prime Minister (Mr R, G. Menzies) paid a tribute to the women of Britain when he visited bombed areas in Swansea. The Ministry of Health has announced that up till the end of March 29j000 people were killed and 40,000 injured in air raids on Britain. AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS IN AMERICA CREATION OF HOME GUARD ADVOCATED (Received May 1, 9.45 p.m.) NEW YORK, May 1. • The Mayor of New York (Mr F. H. La Guardia) is urging the training of city home guards similar to Britain’s A.R.P. organisation. He declared: "I, do not say we would get repeated sustained air attacks like London, but it is our duty to be prepared for the worst.”

Eireann Army Vote.—The Dail Eireann agreed without discussion to, a vote for the Eireann Army /of £8,333,566 for 1941-42.—Dublin, April 30. U.S. Pilots T<> Observe Air War,— The United States Army is sending » considerable number of young pilotiid Britain to observe the methods and equipment used in modern aerial com* bat.—New York, April 30. v