BOMBERS IN ATLANTIC

Evening Star, Issue 23492, 5 February 1940, Page 7

BOMBERS IN ATLANTIC

ATTACKING ALLIED SHIPPING LONDON, January 30. Germany is reported to be making plans for attacking Allied and neutral shipping in the North and South Atlantic with bombers operating from one or two aircraft carriers. However, the Navy and the Air Force are fully prepared to combat any such attempt, says the air correspondent of the ‘ Evening Standard.’ It is presumed! that the Germans are making plans to run the gauntlet of the British naval forces in the North Sea, using a screen of submarines for defence against surface craft, while the heavy anti-aircraft artillery of the aircraft carriers will be used to beat off British bombers. A speed of 32 knots makes the aircraft carriers as fast as many of the British heavily armed cruisers, while their gun power is greater than that of destroyers, which could easily outdistance them. The carriers are definitely planned for wider seas than the Baltic or the North Sea. The first of the four, the Graf Zeppelin, is already in commission, and a second has either been launbhedl or is ready for launching. Two others are being built as rapidly as possible. Allied officials consider it unlikely that the carriers will evade the tremendous naval and aerial opposition they are certain to encounter, but even if they do the difficulty of supply remains insuperable. They must finally scuttle them or surrender them because pf lack of food and fuel. MAGNETIC MINE MENAGE TRAWLERMEH’S MAGNIFICENT RESPONSE (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, February 4. (Received February 5, at 11 a.m.) Describing it as one of the epics of the war, Mr Ernest Bevin paid a tribute in a speech to the trawlermen’s immediate response to the Admiralty appeal for combating magnetic mines. He revealed that when the mine was discovered the Admiralty asked for 200 trawlers and crews. “ Within 12 hours those 200 trawlers and crews without one refusal were at the Admiralty’s disposal, helping to conquer the magnetic mine,” he said. Mr Bevin also stated that nearly 37,000 members of the Transport and General Workers’ Union bad joined the forces. HUGE GERMAN GUN “ GOULD SHELL LONDON " . BRUSSELS, January 30. A giant gun, with which it will be possible to shell London from a distance of 160 miles, is reported to have been built by Germany. It is said that a shell fired at an angle of 70deg would reach a height of 37 miles before it travelled 123 miles through the stratosphere and fell upon its objective. The Germans estimate that by constructing a railway between Middleburg and Westkapelle they could bring the gun within range of London, Tests are being carried! out in the Baltic area. This report recalls the use by the Germans in the last war of the huge gun named Big Bertha, after Frau Bertha von Bohlen, principal shareholder in Krupp’s factory, at which it was made. With this gun the Germans shelled Paris from the forest of Conchy in 1918 at a range of 76 miles. The bombardment extended over 140 days, and took place about every third day. Two hundred! and fifty-six people were killed. SLOVAKIA SACKED GERMAHB REMOVING FOOD AHD RAW MATERIALS PARIS, February 4. (Received February 5, at 1.5 p.m.) Machacek, joint founder of the Hlinka Party, who escaped to France, states that the Germans are removing food, corn, wood, and raw materials from Slovakia. WESTERN FRONT PATROL ACTIVITY REPORTED (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, February 4. (Received February 5, at 11 a.m.) The French official morning communique states: “There has been patrol activity on the western slopes of the Vosges.” ITALY'S AIR STRENGTH DOUBLING HUMBER OF FLAKES AND PILOTS ROME, February 4. (Received February 5, at 8 a.m.) It is officially announced that Italy is at least doubling the number of her military planes and pilots this year.