RAIDS ON LONDON

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 March 1943, Page 5

RAIDS ON LONDON

REPRISAL EFFORT FAILS EFFECTIVE BARRAGE LONDON, March 4. A terrific barrage greeted German raiders over London shortly after dark last night. This was the “reprisal” raid which Londoners had been awaiting. since the great blow against Berlin by the Royal Air Force. There was a tremendous reception for the raiders which, as expected, proved few and comparatively ineffectual. Very few aircraft penetrated London’s wall of fire, and they wasted no time in getting out. Thev raced across London, dropping flares, incendiaries, and high-explo-sives indiscriminately. They caused some damage and casualties, but everyone’s impression was that as a reprisal it was a poor effort. Most Londoners went home at dusk feeling that a raid was certain, and consequently the city’ anti-aircraft defences were fully alert. Guns blazed long before the raiders reached the London area. Buses and trams carried on normally beneath a sky illuminated by shell flashes and filled with the thunderous roll of incessant explosions. So few were the raiders that there were long gaps between their arrivals. They came singly from different directions, each meeting the full blast of the ground defences as it turned in from the outskirts of London. Many newly-arrived American soldiers expressed wonder at the frightening roar of Londons new barrage. A second wave of raiders came over a few hours later, but the barrage again gave them little chance to bomb accurately. None of their bombs fell in the London' area, but some were dropped on a town near the Thames Estuary. Bombs were also dropped in East Anglia. Four of the raiders were destroyed.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT.

RUGBY, March 4.

It is .officially stated tjiat enemy aircraft made two raids on this country during the night. In the first, about 30 to 40 bombers crossed the coast. Some penetrated to London. The second raid was made by a small force, a few of which reached London. Bombs were dropped in East Anglia and the Home Counties and the London area. There were some casualties, of which a number were fatal. The damage was not extensive. HAVOC IN BERLIN LONDON, March 4. The German censorship is giving press correspondents surprising latitude in describing the terrifying effect of the R.A.F.’S recent mammoth raid in Berlin on the civilian population. The Swiss newspaper “La Suisse’s Berlin correspondent says: The entire city rumbled with the explosions ol bombs. Shelters rocked. People had the geratest difficulty in controlling their nerves. It was like hell on earth. Incendiaries turned night into day. The destruction was appalling. In street after street houses the following morning had to be evacuated for fear they would collapse. The occupants of these were additional to thousands whose houses were smashed outright, or were razed by lire. The German-controlled Scandinavian News Agency says: Berlin s face shows many terrible scars, which will take a long time to heal. Hundreds ol thousands of windows have gone. The Hungarian Telegraph Agency reports: There is scarcely a single quarter of Berlin where great blocks of buildings were not ablaze while .the raid was in progress.

THOUSANDS OF HOMELESS

(N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent)

(Recd. noon.) LONDON, March 4 AU reports from Europe indicate the destruction suffered by Berlin as the result of the latest R.A.F. attack, which was the heaviest of the war. Messages released by the German censors state that Berlin is devastated. without gas, water and electricity with thousands homeless, seeking guidance and help from the authorities. Every able-bodied individual in the city has been ordered to help in clearing up the wreckage. The Axis Hungarian 'telegraphic Agency said that cattle, stampeded from the bombed abattoir and the crazed beasts plunged wildly .in all directions through the streets silhouetted in the light of a hundred H Other correspondents state that the wffidows of Goering’s Air Ministry were smashed, also that the fires were so great and widespread that the fire brigade was helpless. It would be wrong even to suggest the average man in the street in London reads the details with, any glee nobody who has experienced severe raids finds any reason lor glee in them,- —but it is generally realised that in addition to weakening Germany’s war effort, this is the only way to bring home to the Germans that war, like crime, does not pay in the long run. Still less sympathy is felt for the Germans when remembering Rotterdam, Belgrade, Coventry and London. The effect on the Germans of these continuing raids will be watched with interest. One or two significent comments recently were made by Hans Schwarz von Berg, who is a Berlin Propaganda Ministry official. He warned the Germans against under-estimat-ing the enemy. “We know that Britain is standing on her hind legs. We know the huge United States output in and lor the fronts, and that the Soviet force is the most erudite pupil in the art of warfare. The German pation is suffering in the present war more than in any previous wars.” ' . Goebbels’ said: “Thus far the British have done nothing spectacular in this war, but now they are rolling up their sleeves. The enemy’s production makes it necessary that we give every ounce of strength to production, and explains why juveniles, are manning our anti-aircraft guns.”

HAMBURG AGAIN BOMBED.

RUGBY, March 4

An Air Ministry communique states: Last night, our bombers made a 'heavy attack on Hamburg and also on objectives in western Germany. Intruder aircraft destroyed an enemy raider over Holland. Ten of our bombers are missing.

This was Hamburg’s ninety-sixth raid. It is believed that more submarines are built at Hamburg, than at any other German port. A German High Command communique says: The R.A.F. last night greatly damaged buildings at Hamburg. " The population suffered some casualties All the crews of last night’s heavy attack on Hamburg mentioned clouds of smoke, which hung over the target. Many four thousand pounders and tens of thousands of incendiaries were dropped. Lancasters, Halifaxes, Stirlings, and Wellington squadrons were in the attack. Anti-aircraft fire was not as intense as usual, but searchlights were numerous. As the raid, went on, about one-third of the searchlights went out. but the barrage remained fairly continuous. Some pilots considered the enemy was relying on night fighters. One pilot saw five.

U.S.A. FORTRESSES

ENEMY LOSSES 14 to 5

RUGBY, March 4

A United States Army communique states: U.S.A.A.F. Fortresses attacked targets in Germany and Hollanci today. Overcoming adverse weatnei conditions, one formation penstrated to the important railway marshalLn* yards and junction at Hamm. No opposition was encountered at the target. Direct hits were made on the yards. , . Our aircraft were engaged by a ’strong force of enemy aircraft on tne return journey, and many encounters ensued. Information available indicated that 14 enemy aircraft, were destroyed. Another force ot Fortresses attacked shipyards at Rotterdam under difficult weather conditions, but hits .were seen on the target area. _ _ Five of our bombers are missing.

NORWEGIAN WORKS.

LONDON, March 4

The Mosquitoes which attacked the Knaben plant crossed the Norwegian coast almost at the exact point marked on their briefing maps, alter which navigation was mort difficult as the ground was covered with thick snow.They had to fly for 10 miles over water at the bottom of a crevasse, with snow-covered rock mounting 500 feet over them. The crevasse was so narrow that the Mosquitoes were compelled to fly singly in line. The plant was hit several times, and left burning fiercely. Debris was flung high, above the attacking aircraft. , , , The plant produces molybdenum for hardening the steel used in gun barrels, machine tools, and cutting and drilling tools. Without it many German war industries would be brought io a standstill. Even before the Allied occupation of North Africa Germany obtained most of her molybdenum from Knaben, which is now almost her only source for it.

N.Z. PILOT’S NARRATIVE

(N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent)

LONDON, March 4. Flight Sergeant Peter McGeehan D.F.M., of Avondale, who was in the Berlin daylight raid, also took part in the Mosquitos' daylight raid bombing the mines at Knaben, which is forty miles south-east of Stavanger. These mines are producing for the Germans molybdenum, an alloy which prevents steel from distorting under heat. The Mosquitos hit the plant and left it burning fiercely. McGeehan said: “We left England shortly after mid-day and crossed the Norwegian coast almost at the exact point marked on the briefing maps. Navigation became doubly difficult, for the ground was covered thick with snow, and detail was hard to pick out. At one point, we had to fly for ten miles •over blue water at the bottom of a crevasse, with snow covered rocks mounting five hundred feet over us. The crevasse was so narrow we had to fly singlv in line. I was last to bomb the target. As I came over the hill near the plant, I saw white smoke billowing up from the target, and the bombers ahead of me wheeled in for the attack. I saw bomb flashes even through the smoke. There was such a lot of smoke by now that I circled the plant to make quite sure exactly where it was. After we bombed, my navigator looked back. He saw flames coming up and the white smoke turning black. We were attacked by Fockewulfs while returning.”

AWARDS TO NEW ZEALANDERS

(N Z P.A. Special Correspondent) LONDON, March 3.

The award of the D.S.O. to Wing Commander P. G. Jameson (Lower Hutt) and Flight Lieutenant J. F. Barron (Palmerston, Otago) means that two more New Zealanders have won triple awards. Wing Commander Jameson already holds the D.F.C. and bar and Flight Lieutenant Barron the D. and the D.F.M. Wing Commander Jameson is a fighter pilot. _ Flight Lieutenant Barron, who is 22, is a Stirling bomber pilot. He is. probably the only New Zealander thus far to win the D. 5.0., the D.F.C., and the D.F.M. It is stated that only five members of the whole R.A.F. have been awarded that set of decorations. He has won all three awards since last May, and the D.S.O. and the D-.F.C. in the last month. He has taken part in more than 60 raids in Strilings, which is believed to be a RAF. record. Flight Lieutenant Barron was until recently flying from a station commanded by Group Captain E. G. Olson (New Plymouth), but he was transferred yesterday.