GERMAN V2 ROCKET

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 November 1944, Page 5

GERMAN V2 ROCKET

GREAT CLAIMSBROADCAST FLYING BOMB EXCELLED - (Rec. 10.25 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 8. To-day’s German High Command communique announces that V2 has been in use against London for some weeks and claimed it was a far more effective explosive missile than VI.

Reuter’s says: V2 is described in reports from Sweden and other neutral countries as a powerful rocket with a range of between 200 and 300 miles, and a warhead comprising a ton of high explosive. One or two missiles were found in Sweden after being fired across the Baltic from Peenemunde research station. Swedish reports described V2 as a long, fairly flat rocket with fins like a bomb. Some reports said it was 50ft long, “like a flying telegraph pole, with a trail of flame at the rear,” and faster than sound, so that it hits the objective before it is heard. Bases in Germany, Holland, Denmark and Norway are claimed as feasible for attacks against Britain. The second phase of the great secret weapon war which started on June 15, began in a mysterious way last month, said the German Overseas News Agency chief correspondentj Georg Schroeder, in a special broadcast, to-night, about V2. “Never before have the German military authorities been so reticent about a secret weapon. We can be sure nothing will be revealed about the technical side of V2. Everybody in Germany to-day is speaking about the new weapon, but nobody knows anything definite, and no man or women employed in the mass production of the weapon will give away a single word. A great fact OF MILITARY IMPORTANCE has been revealed to the world —the British hope that the long-range fire against London would cease with the Channel Coast has not been fulfilled. The German Command has more secret weapons at is disposal, and revolutionary changes in the technique of long-range war are not finished.” The Berlin radio devoted much time to V2 to-night. One announcer declared: “British reports have repeatedly emphasised that the new explosive can be neither seen nor heard before the exceedingly strong detonation, The British Government has done its utmost to prevent the news of V2 spreading, but confirmation that particularly violent explosives have been fired against London has reached neutral capitals. The British Government has again postponed the return of evacuees to London in face of the new danger. The British Government has also concealed from its own people that a more effective and more dangerous longrange weapon has been in action in addition to the flying-bomb, of which everybody knows. In the London district extremely heavy damage was caused to blocks of houses and traffic installations at Camberwell, Mitcham, Sidcup, and Edmonton, and a large railway bridge in South London was completely wrecked. If the German authorities required further proof of the accuracy of V2, official British reports supplied it by announcing after the night on which London was exclusively attacked by V2 that flying bombs were over the capital. The Berlin radio announcer added: “V2, together with VI, will henceforth be the medium of Germany s retaliation against England The Fatherland’s gratitude goes out to the research workers who, despite the air terror, have toiled untiringly and. invented, tested and developed the new weapon, and eventually brought it into action. Soldiers and scientists using V2 can hit the enemy just where the High Command thinks fit. The announcer added that the news of V2 would dominate the Berlin morning papers, whereas the United States election would receive ten lines.

FLYING BOMBS ON U.S.A

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7.

Flying bomb attacks on the American Atlantic Coast are entirely possible, according to a joint statement by the United States War and Navy Departments. In view of the continuation of flying bomb attacks on Britain even after the destruction of the launching platforms -in France and the Low Countries, the question was raised as to the possibility of similar attacks against the United States. The War and Navy Departments consider that such attacks by Germany might be launched from submarines off shore or by one-way sacrifice flights of long-range bombers controlled across the Atlantic by submarines. It is also held possible that attacks could be launched from catapult tenders. The departments say it is extremely possible that measures will be enforced to protect the country. However, it is impossible to ensure that such attacks would be completely frustrated. The attacks could have no great military effectiveness and could serve only to simulate the nation still further in its determined prosecution of the war. RAIDS ~ON RUHR RUGBY, Nov. 8. Lancasters of the R.A.F. Bomber Command escorted by fighters, attacked the synthetic oil plant at Homburg, in the Ruhr, on Wednesday morning. About the same time some 350 Fortresses and Liberators of the Eighth Air Force attacked Leuns synthetic oil plant at Merseberg, ana railway yards at Rheine, north-west of Munster. Heavy bombers were escorted to the cloud-covered targets [by over 850 Mustangs and Thunderholts. , , „ , I There was a clear patch of sky over the target, and the crews were able to identify it visually. The bombing was very concentrated from the start and great "clouds of smoke soon hid the plant. No enemy fighters were seen, but the flak was intense. LATER. A United States communique on the Flying Fortresses’ and Liberators attacks on Merseburg and Rhe’ l ? 6 stated‘that five bombers and 24 fight- ! ers had not returned, but the majority !i of the fighters are believed to be safe Jin friendly territory. Several groups of fighters returning home after taking bombers over the targets attacked ground targets from tree-top level destroying or damaging 60 locomotives, 90 railroad cars, 16 motor vehicles, eight balloons and four barges.