BRITISH BOMBERS

Evening Star, Issue 23845, 27 March 1941, Page 9

BRITISH BOMBERS

TELLING RAIDS ON GERMANY GREAT DESTRUCTION IN INDUSTRIAL AREAS BERLINERS HOW IMPRESSED BY REALITIES OF WAR (British Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph-Copyrighi RUGBY, March 26. (Received March 27, at 1.40 p.m.) Information from various sources reaching authoritative quarters in London enables some account to be given of the raids on Germany from November to January. .. The raids on December 15 on, Berlin were the most effective delivered during the period," and heavier than any of the preceding attacks, and impressed on Berliners the realities of war. Heavy bombs penetrated a Berlin underground station, bringing both road and underground traffic to a standstill between°the Withersberg Platz and Zoo stations. The damage was so extensive -that it took 10 days to clear up, in spite of the extraordinary speed and efficient work of the large salvage squadrons the .Nazis employed in order to hide the effects of British bombing. Hits were also obtained on an important junction between the Schonberg and Pape Strasse stations, where the Ringbahn connects -with the Potsdamer terminus station. There is reason to believe that this incident caused considerably more dislocation than usually results when railroads are bombed. MANNHEIM PLASTERED. Mannheim received a heavy attack the week before Christmas, and considerable damage was caused in the great dock and industrial area. Shipyards at Schiffund and Maschenbau have been damaged and production held up. . . More than one shop of the Heinrich Lanz engineering works has been completely destroyed and others damaged by high, explosives and fire. The damage inflicted to plant and buildings of this works is believed to run into millions of marks, and production is likely to be affected for some time. The Ludwigshafen works of the Badische Aniliu-Und Soda Fabric Company have been extensively damaged, and the Oppau works also suffered. There is reason to believe that the damage inflicted on these works has set the German chemical industry difficult problems. Other worlks, including the Zellstoft fabric Waldhof, received minor damage. Several hits were scored on the main passenger station and main goods station at Mannheim. In the goods station an ammunition train was involved, with unfortunate results to surrounding property. Apart .from the main station the Ludwigshafen and Waldhof stations were also involved. The former was set on fire and the engine sheds hit. Altogether some 15 hits were scored.on railway tracks in various parts of the Mannheim area. One of these broke the connection across the Rhine between Mannheim and Ludwigshafen for some days.