U-BOAT BASE BLASTED

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 81, 30 December 1940, Page 7

U-BOAT BASE BLASTED

Fierce R.A.F. Raids CONCENTRATION ON PORTS

LONDON. December 29.

In the last lew days British aircraft have resumed their attacks against enemy-occupied bases from Norway to the bay of Biscaj. The German submarine base at Lorient was the mam objective of the R.A.F. last night. Behind this Ibrief announcement lies a story of one of the most concentrated attacks yet delivered against an enemy target. Day and night for the past three days high-explosive and incendiary bombs have been rained down on this vital base from winch German submarines go out to attack British shipping. , Last night other targets along the enemy-occupied coast were also attacked On Friday night the R.A.F. Bomber Command’s chief objectives were the submarine base at Lorient and the aerodrome at Merignac near Bordeaux, from which Germany sends some of her heaviest bombers over the ocean trade routes. ( The communique detailing Friday nights iaids states. ie R A.F. attacked targets in the docks at Cherbourg and Lorient and aij aerodrome at Bordeaux. At Lorient stores, barracks, dry docks and a power station were bombed, and at Cherbourg the docks were straddle, . At Bordeaux bad weather made it difficult to find the target, but many bombs were seen to burst among the hangars. St. Inglevert aerodrome and the shipbuilding yards at St. Nazaire were also bombed. Uui programme of minelaying in enemy waters continued. n a these operations two of our aircraft are missing.” The Air Ministry also announces that two attacks were made on Saturday on Lorient by bombers of the Coastal Command. Hits were observed, and all the planes returned safely. . Skua aircraft on Fridav without loss attacked enemy shipping and harbour works in the Haugesund area, north of Stavanger, Norway, states, an Admiralty communique. One enemy supply ship of 4UUU tons, which was lying alongside a jetty, was hit and set on file, an hits were also scored on jetties and One of the enemy s anti-aircraft guns was silenced by machine-gun lire. A New Zealander navigated the Skua which set tire to the supply ship at Haugesund.