BOMBERS OYER MUNICH

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23748, 21 September 1942, Page 5

BOMBERS OYER MUNICH

STRONG FORCE TAKES

PART

OCCUPIED TERRITORY RAIDED (N.Z. Press Association— Copyright.) (Rec. U p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 30. Bombers of the Royal Air Fore® were over Germany last night in strength. The main objective wag Munich, where large fires were started. Several industrial centres in the Saar Valley were also bombed. Ten bombers are missing. Fighter Command aircraft strafed railway centres and goods trains in occupied France. Others attacked shipping off the Dutch coast. The recent record bombing of Germany—sooo tons in less than three weeks—has again raised the question of how far bombing can influence the outcome of the war. The “Daily Telegraph” says: “The war cannot be won without the sustained bombing of German armament factories and communications. Our bombing weakens the blows Germany can strike at Russia, and it is for th® Allies to hasten the day when bombing will destroy the German war machine.” , ~ _ The fact that-the Royal Air Force is now dropping a bomb of 80001b over Germany has keen disclosed by the Air Ministry, which states that some of the heavy damage caused at Dusseldorf and Karlsruhe was recently created by this new bomb, Karlsruhe was attacked on the night of September 2 and Dusseldorf on the night of September 10. Two hundred and seventy acres at Karlsruhe and 370 acres at Dusseldorf were laid waste, and other areas in the towns were severely damaged. The Air Ministry states: “On Friday night a large force of aircraft of the Bomber Command laid mines in enemy waters. Aircraft of the Coastal Command and naval aircraft attacked enemy shipping off the Dutch coast. Fighter Command aircraft on intruder patrol attacked railway targets in occupied France. From these operations five bombers are missing.”

Early on Saturday morning three enemy fighters attacked a plade on the south-east coast of England and two others attacked a place on the southwest coast in the afternoon. Some damage was done and there were e s'mall number of casualties.. Four Hurricane fighters have been presented to a Royal Air Force squadron in the Middle East. They were the gifts of Lady Macßobert and they will carry on the work of her three sons, who were ikilled while flying. Her son, Sir Roderick Macßobert, was serving in this squadron when he was killed m action. Air Vice-Marshal McClaughly read a message to the squadron from Lady Macßobert and expressed admiration of her courage.

JAPAN AND RUSSIA

REPORTED COMMENT IN TOKYO NEW YORK, Sept. 18. Fresh Japanese utterances on relations with Russia, half placating and half threatening, were linked to-day to Japan’s observance of the eleventh anniversary of the Mukden incident, states the Associated Press of America. Manchukuo was pictured in official Tokyo comment as at bulwark against Russia, giving the Japanese a free hand for action in other theatres. The Domei Agency quoted Colonel Yahagi, the army press section chief, as saying that so long as Russia keeps strictly to the neutrality treaty with Japan nothing untoward can happen In the north. At the same time, ne declared that the United States. Britain, and China were attempting to incite Russia against Japan. It is noted that Russia still maintains an army several scores of thousands strong in Siberia and that she has mined Siberian coastal waters. Mr Masayukl Tani, in his first official statement as Japanese Foreign Minister, said that the empire’s first major objective.’! 'Was closer co-operation among the Axis Powers, and further objectives were the defeat of Britain and the United States and the establishment of a new order in East Asia.

BRITISH BOMBING CRITICISED

PRACTICE WITH U.S. AIRCRAFT

NEW YORK. Sept. 18. Colonel Knerr, a former Chief of Staff of the Army Air Force,'commenting on aerial bombing said: “The British like block busting. The Americans prefer to attack specific targets with precision instruments. What could be better? Our aeroplanes come over in daylight and knock down what the British missed at night." Colonel Knerr said that the British unwisely bombed the warship Scharnhorst as a practice target with American aeroplanes and untrained crews whereas it required at least 200 practice bombs at a target before th# American bomb sight 'could be skilfully handled. Colonel Knerr acknowledged the preeminence of British fighter craft. ,r Out of her terrible emergency Britain has built the finest fighters in the world and likewise she has the most experienced fighter pilots,” he said. Colonel Knerr concluded: “The important thing for both Britain and America is victory and the day we send 1000 Bl7’s (Flying Fortresses) in broad daylight over Berlin and repeat it the next day and the next, victory will be in sight.”

LOYALTY OF TURKEY

ALLIANCE WITH BRITAIN

(8.0. W.) RUGBY, Sept. 18. Confidence in a victory by the united Nations was expressed by Bey Sukru Esmer, one of five Turkish editors at present visiting Britain, during conversations with press representatives in London. » Bey Sukru Esmer, who is foreign editor of the Government organ * “Ulus,” added with emphasis “Your victory is our victory also. We feel in line with the democratic Powers who stand for peace. “Since the outbreak of war we have been loyal in letter and spirit to the alliance with Britain, and, although not actively in the war, we are doing our duty— tti a better way perhaps than if we had been drawn into the war,” he said. Turkey had a large standing army ready to face any aggression which might come and she was willing to defend her independence and freedom.