MASS RAID BY R.A.F.

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 92, 12 January 1940, Page 9

MASS RAID BY R.A.F.

Ten-Hour Battle Over German Air Base

BOMBS DROPPED, 50 PLANES ENGAGED

(By Telegraph —Press Association—Copyright.)

Received January 11, 9.35 p.m. LONDON, January 10. What was apparently the biggest air engagement since the outbreak of war began over the island of Sylt, off the German north coast, at 6 a.m. today, and continued with breaks till 4 p.m. The Air Ministry announces that R.A.F. machines on patrol dropped bombs near Sylt. It is believed that 50 British and German planes participa-

tea in tne engagement: over the Sylt air base. R.A.F. security patrols in the Heligoland Bight dropped bombs as early as 1 a.m. The major battle began over Sylt at 6 a.m., when antiaircraft guns cannonaded for two hours. The battle was resumed at 9 a.m. when the German fighters went up, and guns roared continuously till 12.30 p.m. A new outburst, intermingled with bomb explosions at 2.30 p.m., continued till 4 p.m. The objective of the raid on which is a strategic road and sto the air base. Three bombs

included the Hindenburg causeway, railway for the transport of supplie

landed on or near the causeway The German radio announced that German planes encountered nine British bombers at 1 p.m. and shot down three. There were no German casualties, Berlin declares, but Denmark reports that two bullet-riddled German planes made forced landings in Denmark. One of the pilots stated that he was dog-fighting all the afternoon. Danish reports state that a bomb is believed to . have hit the Hindenburg Dam, over which a road connects Sylt with the mainland. Copenhagen reports that an unidentified plane dropped three bombs on Romo Island, adjoining the Sylt air base. A German plane landed in Belgium and two'Germans were interned. It is reported from Denmark (states British Official Wireless) that damage was done to Danish property adjoining the frontier in the early hours of the morning. Should it be established that British aircraft were responsible for the damage, full restitution will be made to the Danish Government. Later reports reveal that snow on Romo Island obliterated the distinguishing marks showing the island to be Danish. The 'damage consisted of hundreds of windows being shattered and the electric supply cut off.

* The German news agency admits that the German planes in the battle were of the newest type. They were fighters and were much faster than the British bombers and are known as destroyer planes. The advantage should have been with the Germans, but the fa'ct’ that at least two were disposed of by the slower British bombers indicates the skill and courage of the British pilots. —By radio.

NAZI PATROL SHIP SUNK

Crew Of 70 Perish

( Received January 11, 10 p.in.)

COPENHAGEN, January 10.

Wreckage on the Jutland coast reveals that the German patrol ship M 132 sunk. The crew of 70 perished.

DENMARK INDIGNANT

Demand For Compensation

(Received January 11, 10 p.m.)

COPENHAGEN, January 10.

Denmark is indignant over attacks on two of her merchantmen, Feddy and Invakondrup, and will protest-to Berlin very strongly. Newspapers emphasize that both ships clearly displayed the Danish flag, illuminated by a searchlight.

Denmark will demand full compensation for damage and wounde'd.and for dependents of the Feddy’s engineer. Newspapers deny German charges that the ships were armed and convoyed.

ANOTHER CASTLE SHIP RUNS ON ROCKS

LONDON, January 10.

The motor-ship Rothesay Castle (7016 tons) ran on the rocks on.the west coast of Scotland and serious damage resulted.

The master and 11 of the crew are still on board. They are not in any danger and it is thought that tiie ship will not be lost.

U.S. NEUTRALITY

British Protest On Shipping Law

WASHINGTON, January 10.

Britain has protested to the United States against the Neutrality Act discriminating against British ships. The British Embassy presented the protest on behalf of the Chamber of Shipping, London. It stresses that the Act requires a transfer of title for goods carried in British or other belligerent. vessels to certain parts of the globe, but that there is no similar requirement concerning neutral vessels. The point is made that the transfer requirement aids neutral ships to the disadvantage of British vessels. The practical working out of the Act is given as follows: A Dutch freighter could load a cargo in New’ York consigned to Halifax. Nova Scotia, without need for a transfer of title from American producer to foreign purchaser, but a transfer of title would be tsuii'v'-i'-ry if tlifl vessel were Sttiiisn.