BRITISH ATTACKS ON SHIPPING

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 282, 23 August 1940, Page 9

BRITISH ATTACKS ON SHIPPING

Nazi Destroyer Hit DAYLIGHT RAIDS ON AERODROMES

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, August 21. Au Air Ministry communique states: —•

“Owing to adverse weather conditions, no bombing operations ■were carried out over Germany last night. “Daylight attacks were carried out yesterday and today on aerodromes in enemy-occupied territory. “Attacks were also made yesterday by Coastal Command aircraft on two enemy destroyers in the North Sea, one of which was damaged. “We suffered no losses in these operations.”

An Air Ministry communique issued about midnight states that Coastal Command Hudsons, after making a dive-bombing attack on two enemy ships in the North Sea this afternoon, encountered seven enemy fighters which were escorting the ships. A running fight ensued in which one enernv fighter was shot down into the sea. The British aircraft, though damaged, landed safely. VITAL NAZI CANAL Reason For R.A.F. Bombers’ Constant Attention

(British Official Wireless.) (Received August 22, 7 p.m.) RUGBY, August 21.

One of the targets that have been receiving constant attention from the Royal Air Force bombers is the Dort-mund-Ems canal in Germany. This magnificent piece of engineering is a most important link in the German waterway system, serving her industrial area. Stretching for many miles across a plain, the aqueduct joins one mountain ridge to another and thus enables barges to cross without the delay which would ensue if different levels had to be reached by a system of locks. Linking the industrial valleys of the Ruhr and Rhine with the Mittelland canal, it completes a chain of waterways connecting the new industrial areas in the east and centre of Germany with the old areas in the west and north-west. In view of the unsatisfactory state of her railways this canal system is of special importance to Germany. Naturally the Dortmund-Ems aqueducts are well defended, and because the target area is small and only susceptible to attack from a very limited number of directions, it is comparatively easy to concentrate the defence. The pilot who was recently awarded the V.C. for his successful attack on this important target described the defences as making a lane along the length of the canal, and the fact that two of five bombers which were employed in one recent attack were shot down sufficiently indicates the strength of its defences. ATTACK ON FERRY Second Bombing Fails LONDON, August 21. German bombers attacked the Great Western Railway steamer St. Patrick for the second time off the coast ot Wexford. The ship’s gunners drove off the raiders after 20 minutes. Bombs rocked the ship but caused no damage. NEEDS OF ITALY AND GERMANY Competition For Supplies (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, August 21. Competition between the Axis Powers in the only markets open to them was referred to in authoritative circles in London today, where it was pointed out that a fat shortage in Italy and Germany has forced them both into the Balkan market in an endeavour to purchase oil seed-M. Of these, however, there is an insutficient quantity to satisfy ‘both. Tlie Italian food position is estimated to lx; ensured 1 for about nine months, but there is already a. shortage of meat, which is now not. allowed to lie sold in public restaurants. In certain necessary raw materials it is estimated that there are sufficient slocks to Just lor f ix 'months nt the present rate of consumption, and unless the ba la nee of sea power ,-liang<-s lh<-so arc irreplaceable. More mtloiiw is the rubber supply, of whi'-h Italy had only four months’ slpej; v/lieii i-Ji-c mitered the war. While she i« able io obtain coal, and iron from Gennim;, If triimiport dilllclillles can be overcow, her partner cannot help her with rubber, whore I.here are serious deliejewleii. Italian oil rhr'll arc lliomvlit to be probably pioporl!»»n>ilo|y greater than Gcnnfin.v’a. Blw <'.m. however, al present only if-pia'a, iJcor, from Rumania, win-re nj-'tijii ;-,he In oompt'litlon with Germany. A:-, Germany luu; already i.'iisivl her price of coal Io liar ally, if would wain that any replnremcnlK that Italy ware will only be at considerable coot.