SMASHING BLOWS

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 68, 14 December 1944, Page 7

SMASHING BLOWS

Enemy’s Vulnerable Points SYNTHETIC OIL AND TRANSPORT (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received December 13, 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, December 13. Heavy blows by more than 1200 Fortresses and Liberators yesterday against the Leuna synthetic oil plant, near Merseburg, and important rail-, yards at Hanau, Scheffenburg, and Darmstadt, were the continuance of the relentless attacks against the German war machine’s most vulnerable points—oil and transport. Lancasters of the R.A.F. almost simultaneously bombed Witten, in the Ruhr. The R.A.F. followed this up last night with an attack by strong forces on Essen. The Liberators and Fortresses were escorted by about 900 fighters, and the Lancasters were supported by Mustangs. One of the latter is missing. Six enemy aircraft were destroyed- and others damaged. „ The incessant R.A.F. and IDS.A.A.F. attacks.on the. great rail centres in the Ruhr have affected German transport in this area to such an extent that nearly all the traffic to the Western Front from the industrial areas of the central and northern areas must now go by mpre southerly routes, and it was against these routes that yesterday’s attacks by the American heavy bombers from Britain were directed. The Leuna synthetic oil plant, covering more than a square mile, has been bombed 17 times previously by the Eighth Air Force, but with frantic repairs the Germans have kept the plant iu partial production. Witten, which was attacked by the Lancasters, is the only industrial town o£ any size in the Ruhr which has not been previously bombed by the R.A.F. Enemy fighters reacted more strongly than in recent Ruhr attacks. Witten is now an important traffic centre for the supply of the western front. It is a junction to routes the enemy is using to by-pass the Ruhr marshalling yards which have already been heavily bombed. The bombing in the night attack on Essen was done through thick cloud by the aid of markers dropped by pathfinders. The anti-aircraft fire was slight, and the bombing was concentrated.