AIR ACTIVITY OVER BRITAIN

Evening Star, Issue 23818, 24 February 1941, Page 7

AIR ACTIVITY OVER BRITAIN

BOMBS DROPPED IN NORTH-EAST INCENDIARIES PROMPTLY DEALT WITH MINOR RAIDS ELSEWHERE (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, February 23. (Received February 24, at 11 a.m.) An Air Ministry communique states ; There was little air activity last night. Bombs were dropped at several places in eastern England. There was some damage, and a small number of people were killed. Later reports show that a small number were killed yesterday when bombs were dropped on a town in south-west England. Enemy planes dropped bombs on a coast town of north-east Scotland. There was little damage and no casualties were suffered. A later incsage states; It is reported that the raiders appeared in the northeast town shortly after dusk, and adopted the usual method of first dropping incendiary bombs. However, these were quickly extinguished by the firewatchers and fire services before any damage was done. Bombs which fell near a housing estate caused only slight damage to three houses and injured some of the occupants. Nobody was killed. Other high exiplosive bombs fell in open spaces and did no damage. STRONG FORGES OF RAIDERS TURNED BACK BEFORE REACHING ENGLISH COAST LONDON, February 23, (Received February 24, at 11.40 a.m.) Taking advantage of the springlike weather, unusually strong forces of German fighter-bombers appeared over the Straits of Dover this afternoon. Spitfires and anti-aircraft batteries along the Channel went into action. A number of the enemy were turned back before reaching the English coast. There has been no alert in Loudon since midnight on February 21. During a heavy barrage against raiders over a north-east coast town last night a loud explosion was heard, and “ a ball of fire ” was seen in the sky. It was believed to be an enemy plane brought down. The attack lasted three hours. A few people were injured, and fires were quickly put out. SHIPPING PROBLEMS WIDESPREAD REPERCUSSIONS CURTAILMENT OF COTTON SUPPLIES OVER-AGE AMERICAN VESSELS NEEDED Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, February 22. Directly and indirectly, in both the commodity and Stock Exchange markets, the effects of the shipping problems are increasingly evident. The repercussions are widespread. It was revealed this week that the present output of the cotton industry may be halved as the result of curtailment of raw material supplies. The Egyptian Government announced a Bill to reduce the Egyptian cotton crop. The United Kingdom is strenuously endeavouring to prevent chaos in the industry. Labour which is released will be transferred quickly to various armament works.

The tin and rubber markets, which reflected the fear of shipping difficulties, have been encouraged by reports that the United States is willing to provide adequate tonnage to deal with the accumulation of tin and rubber awaiting shipment from the Far East for America. This in turn would ease the position in other trade spheres. The 1 Manchester Guardian,’ summing up the shipping situation, says the British, Allied, and neutral losses from enemy action during the war amount,to 4,635,.100 tons. The merchant fleets of the United Kingdom, the dominions, and Hongkong totalled 21,000,000 tons before the war, of which only about half was available for traffic between the United Kingdom and overseas countries. The German occupation of Western and Northern Europe and the war in the Mediterranean have still further reduced the fleet’s carrying capacity. The convoy system, the partial closing of east coast ports, and the transfer of tonnage to military purposes have also diminished its effective use. Our mercantile fleet received an additional 10,500.000 tons through absorption of the Allies’ fleets, but much of this was employed in trading with the United Kingdom before the war. The United Kingdom and dominions’ shipyards cannot adequately replace the lost ships, and relief can come only from the United States. The coming struggle at sea might not involve critical danger for Britain if the Lease or Lend Bill permitted the transfer of over-age American ships, which total about 4,000,000 tons. United States launchings increased from 160,000 tons in 1915 to 3,580.000 tons in 1919. There are signs that an equally spectacular expansion can be expected soon. NAPLES BOMBINGS RECONSTRUCTION OF DWELLINGS LONDON, February 23. (Deceived February 24, at 11.30 a.m.) A news agency says Mussolini has allocated 15,000, (XX) lira for the reconstruction of 360 dwellings to accommodate Naples people bombed out of their homes.