GERMAN NAVAL BASES

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 May 1943, Page 5

GERMAN NAVAL BASES

BOMBED BY AMERICANS

STRONG FIGHTER OPPOSITION

RUGBY, May 21. Two strong formations of the American Eighth Air Force attacked the submarine construction yards at Wilhelmshaven and Emden at noon today, says a communique. Both formations were unescorted but despite very strong fighter opposition and intense flak, the attacks were pressed home, and a large weight of bombs dropped. Many enemy fighters were destroyed in combat. American fighters patrolled in force over the Dutch coast. Some Fockewulfs were hit but their destruction is not confirmed. From all the operations, twelve bombers and three fighters are missing.

BERLIN- AGAIN BOMBED

LONDON, May 21.. Mosquito bombers of the Royal Air Force again attacked Berlin last night.. Other aircraft laid mines m enemy waters. Long-range aircraft of the Fighter Command attacked railway and transport’ targets in France and North-west Germany. Two machines are missing. The Chief of Bomber Command (Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris) went to Buckingham Palace to-day to receive the personal congratulations of the King on the success of Bomber Command’s recent operations, particularly last Sunday night’s raids on the Ruhr dams. Essen is the latest city to be imperilled by the floods. Twenty-five per cent, of the Royal Air Force’s flying strength comprises Canadians, said Air Marshal Harold Edwards, Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Air Force, after his arrival from England. In addition, to these men Canada has in action 70 per cent, of a scheduled 38 purelyCanadian squadrons.

GERMANS CRITICAL

(Recd. 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, May 21

“We will be unable to stop the enemy terror raids, but we are about to produce anti-aircraft defences which will inflict increasing losses," said a senior anti-aircraft officer, Lieutenant-General von Axtel, in a broadcast on the Berlin radio in an attempt to counter Germans’ criticism. He said people should pay no attention to the man-in-the-street who asked, “Where was the flak again last night when the enemy was

over us?” “You are fortunate to possess such a weapon as ack-ack against the increasing enemy terrors. Few of you realise what the ack-ack men experience when the enemy turns up on a large scale. They, above all, are targets for the enemy bombs and machine-guns. If Germany had no flak there would hardly be an undamaged house in Germany, and the country would be without factories.

ALERT IN LONDON

LONDON, May 21. Sirens sounded in London for th? fifth night in succession last night, but the “all clear” was given soon afterwards. There was slight enemy air activity over the south coast ot England, but no bombs were dropped.