THIRD BATTERING IN WEEK

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 137, 6 March 1941, Page 8

THIRD BATTERING IN WEEK

British Over Cologne

ESSENTIAL RHINE CROSSING

t British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 4.

An Air Ministry communique states that last night a strong foice of aircraft of the Bomber Command again attacked the industrial centre at Cologne, which, as the natural crossing of .the Rhine, is an essential link between Germany and the occupied countries of the west. This was the third battering in a week. Unfavourable weather, with thick low-lying clouds, .made both navigation and observation of the results difficult, but the target was heavily bombed and a large number of fires were seen to be started, especially on the east bank of the Rhine. Attacks on a small scale were made on other objectives in the Ruhr. Other aircraft of the Bomber Command attacked docks and quays at Boulogne and Ostend, where' bombs were seen to burst close to the lock gates. Several aerodromes in enemyoccupied territory were also attacked, and at Haamstede particularly satisfactory results were observed. From these operations one aircraft is missing. ( Aircraft of the Fighter Command on offensive patrols made night attacks on aerodromes in northern France, where several enemy aircraft wore destroyed or damaged. One of the fighters is missing. A later communique states tiiat a small force of Coastal Command aircraft successfully bombed docks and railway sidings at Calais last night. Today aircraft of the Coastal Command, while on patrol, attacked an aerodrome near Brest and shot down an enemy fighter. Confirmation was also received today of the destruction of four enemy aircraft in recent operations. The German news agency states that the R.A.F. last night flew over Western Germany, causing insignificant damage, and killing three persons.