HEMMING IN THE MINE-SOWERS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 70, 15 December 1939, Page 10

HEMMING IN THE MINE-SOWERS

New Activity By R.A.F. PATROLS OVER ENEMY AIR BASES Heligoland Bay Watched By Telegraph.—Press Assn.— Copyright. (Received December 14, 8.15 p.m.) LONDON, December 13. The Air Ministry announces that R.A.F. security patrols are “continuously maintained all night over the mine-laying aircraft bases in the Heligoland Bight.” This announcement for the first time reveals a new plan for keeping watch on enemy mine-sowing raiders at their bases. The Ministry stated that last night security patrols flew over the islands of Sylt, Borkum, and Norderney in order to interrupt activity by mine-laying aircraft. The operations were successfully performed despite considerable anti-aircraft opposition.

While the German Press claims that the securitv patrols in Heligoland Bay were an effort to catch the Bremen, they are really an extension of Britain’s coastal defences to the enemy s very doorstep. The R.A.F. uses formidable bombers so heavily armed that they can meet any challenge from German fighters. The patrol’s “beat” extends 120 nines past Germany’s mine-laying air bases and covers the approaches to Hamburg, Bremen and Kiel. It is understood that the patrols began. a week ago, and are maintained all night long an'd at other periods which are favourable to mine-laying from the air. Last night’s patrols possibly explain the sudden cessation of broadcasting from the Hamburg and Bremen stations which faded out in the middle of the English news bulletins at 8.20 p.m. and were silent all night. A Berlin communique states that British planes raided Heligoland Bay last night and that anti-aircraft fire from the northern islands, and also from German battleships, prevented the raiders reaching the North Sea coast.