CRIPPLING BLOW

Evening Star, Issue 25344, 28 November 1944, Page 5

CRIPPLING BLOW

LANCASTER RAID DRAINS VITAL CANALS

((Rec. noon.) RUGBY, Nov. 27. This afternoon R.A.F. Lancasters, escorted by Mustangs and Spitfires, attacked the railway marshalling yard in the Kalk district of Cologne.

R.A.F. Bomber Command Lancasters in their third attack on the Dortmund Ems Canal and in a simultaneous attack on Mittelland Canal struck yet another blow, this time more crippling than ever before,' at Germany's system of military communications to the Western Front., v;:-'' : '.-\■;,..',■

This most important of waterways—the two canals are essentially part of the same system of communications between" east and west—is the one route which the enemy can use as an alternative to. his railways, which are being systematically attacked from the air, and his roads, which for lack of oil cannot be used to cam- freight in bulk. In this last assault, on the night of November 21, the Lancasters attacked the Dortmund Ems Canal in the place where it was cut.and drained in the two earlier attacks They attacked the Mittelland Canal near Gravenhorst, close to the point where it joins the Dortmund Ems Canal

Photographic reconnaissance shows that the bombing has successful, the waterways being drained over long stretches.

Photographs taken during . Sunday's attacks by American [ heavy' ; bombers show that numerous hits were made in the target area at the'large, .oil refinery of Misburg, ■ near Hanover. • Hits are shown : on four large refineries as well as other extensive damage. Photographs show a good concentration; of. bombs in the centre of the Osnabriick marshalling yards, which were also attacked on Sunday. .' :■ .