RAID EFFECTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 2, 2 July 1943, Page 5

RAID EFFECTS

ASSESSMENTS VARY

FATE OF WUHELMSHAVEN

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) Rec. 12.15 p.m. ■'• LONDON, July 1. The R;A.F. night attacks, combined with the Flying Fortresses' daylight raids, have virtually eliminated Wilhelmshaven as a naval base, according to a German report reaching Stockholm.

The port is unuseable because the installations have been battered to pieces and the arsenal was blown up. The raids have also resulted in Üboats . berthed at . Wilhelmshaven moving to the. mouth of the Weser River, where they are widely scattered as protection against air raids. Assessments, of the extent to which Germany is being disarmed by bombing vary considerably, but there is sound evidence to support the view that the time .is appreciably closer when the Axis .will be inadequately supplied with arms.

Most commentators tend to exaggerate in estimating the paralysis which is being spread over the Axis sinews oj war. The "Aeroplane" estimates that' the bombing- of-the Ruhr and the Rhineland has destroyed: two-fifths of Germany's power to make what she needs, but this figure must be treated with reserve. This is because of the widely varying estimates of what proportion the Ruhr and the Rhineland contribute to the total production of Germany and Austria and occupied Europe. Evidence is available that the Germans have succeeded in vastly increasing production in their plants. This increase includes material in which the Ruhr specialises. The aviation writer of the "Daily Herald" claims that the battle'of the Ruhr has been won, although more raids may be necessary to complete the devastation and ensure that repairs will not take place. The correspondent considers that the output of the Ruhr has been reduced by 35 per cent, and the whole of Germany's war production by 20 per cent.