FIRST U.S. RAIDS ON GERMANY

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23858, 29 January 1943, Page 5

FIRST U.S. RAIDS ON GERMANY

Fortresses Bomb Wilhelmshaven R.A.F. ATTACK ON LORIENT (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (8.0. W.) RUGBY. Jan. 27. It is officially stated that more bombs and a greater tonnage of bombs have been dropped by the Royal Air Force over Germany proper than the enemy has dropped over Britain. This does not include the immense weight of bombs dropped over the occupied countries, to which American Flying Fortresses and Liberators have largely contributed. In the first United States air attack on Germany, Flying Fortresses made a large-scale attack on the naval base of Wilhelmshaven, and Liberators bombed targets in north-west Germany. The naval base was heavily bombed, but the results were difficult to observe. The bombers, which were not escorted, encountered enemy fighters, a number of which were destroyed. Three of the bombers are missing. Air Marshal Sir Arthur Harris, Chief of the Royal Air Force Bomber Command, in a message of congratulation to Brigadier-General Longfellow, commander of the Bth United State* Bomber Command, said: “To the Germans it is yet another ominous sentence in the writing on the wall, the full import of which they cannot fail to notice. To the Bomber Command it is a concrete and most welcome relief. We shall no longer be alone in carrying the war to German soil.” Last night aircraft of the Bomber Command again attacked the submarine base at Lorient. Fires were seen in the dock areas. Other bombers took part with Coastal Command aircraft in attacks on targets at Bordeaux. Two bombers are missing. The attack on Lorient was concentrated in one hour, says the Air Mmistry news service. The defencel seemed to have been strengthened since bombers were last over the port, and there was sharp opposition at the beginning of the raids. Later arrivals reported that the flak ■ did not worry them very much, and a pilot who was making his first operational sortie said that he hoped that every trip would be "as quiet and easy as this one.” A great number of incendiaries and high explosives, including many 40001b bombs, were dropped. There is no evidence that the German air forces in France are being built up for a renewed blitz on Britain, according to air circles in London. All the evidence tends to show that German first-class bombers stationed m France have been continuously and increasingly diverted to the Eastern front. LOW-LEVEL RAID ON COPENHAGEN MOSQUITOES ATTACK SHIPYARDS (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON. January. 28. A holder of the Victoria Cross, Wing Commander H. Edwards,, led Mosquito aircraft in a raid on tne Copenhagen shipyards to-day. The 'Pilots flew so low that they had to dodge chimneys and church spires. There was intense anti-aircraft nr* over the target, but no enemy opposition in the air. Hits were scored on Diesel engine sheds, from which flamei rose 100 feet into the air. It was the first raid on Copenhagen. ■ “The Royal Air Force made a heavy raid on Trondheim in daylight yesterday, according to messages, received from the Norwegian border,” says the Stockholm correspondent of the British United Press. “Waves of bombers passed over the town for more than «x- Jiour6 r concentrating on . the harbour area., The explosions shook windows. 80 miles away." Royal Air Force bombers were over Germany again last night. Berlin reports say that the targets were in th* west of Germany. ALLIED ATTACK ON DODECANESE PREDICTION BY BERLIN RADIO LONDON, Jan. 27. According to the Berlin radio, an Allied attack against the Dodecanese Islands is expected in the spring. The radio declares that the number of American troops in the Middle East is estimated at between 60,000 and 80,000, and that further contingents are expected. Most of the Americans are in Syria and Lebanon, and are concentrated near Syrian- and Lebanese harbours. U.S. AIRCRAFT OVER WAKE ISLAND TWO ZEROS DESTROYED WASHINGTON. January 27. A United States Navy communique states that American aircraft were attacked by eight’ Zeros during a reconnaissance over Wake Island on January 25. Two Zeros are believed to have been destroyed. PORTUGAL AND SPAIN BRITISH ATTITUDE TO RECENT TALKS (8.0. W.) RUGBY, Jan. 27. The Foreign Secretary (Mr R. A. Eden) said in the House of Commons that Britain had always been in full sympathy with the desire of Portugal and Spain to prevent the war spreading to the Iberian Peninsula. Britain did not regard British treaty relations with Portugal as in any way affected by the recent exchange of views at Lisbon between the Portuguese and Spanish Foreign Ministers, who were concerned to strengthen what was then described as a peninsula bloc of mutual friendship and external peace. “Portugal has told us all that happened at those discussions, and w* welcome it," Mr Eden said. NEW ZEALANDERS IN NAVY PROMOTIONS ANNOUNCED (Rec. 1 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 27. R.N.Z.N.V.R. personnel promoted to the rank of temporary acting sublieutenants are; S. Burley, T. K. Fallwell, A. W. Worth, B. A. Hunter (Auckland). H. P. Anderson (Wellington). C. S. Turnbull (Timaru). T. M. Sunderland (Havelock North), and also A. W. Woodhouse, B. M. Simpson, and C. D. Mowat. Members of the special branch promoted are R. B. Smith, L. M. Hadley, and D. G.', Francis (Wei lington), and P. M. Priest (Palmerston North). **