GREATEST YET

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20442, 31 December 1940, Page 9

GREATEST YET

PORT BOMBINGS HEAVY R.A.F. RAIDS NAZI SUBMARINE BASE DOCKS AT BOULOGNE HORNETS STUNG IN NEST (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United duress Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 1.50 p.m. RUGBY, Dec. 29. The Air Ministry News Service states that last night was very dark and cloudy, but aircraft of the Bomber Command were able to continue the attack on the submarine base at Lorient. The raid, which was fairly heavy, lasted for little more than an hour, beginning at about 7 o’clock in the evening. The pilots had often to wait for low clouds to pass, but when they did it was possible to see bursts on the banks of the river score where the docks, slips and factories of Lorient are situated. What one pilot described as a very large fire followed the explosion of one stick of bombs. The docks at Boulogne were also attacked though the weather was squally and unfavourable. All the bombs were seen to explode alongside the Basin Loubet. The harbour at Cherbourg was also raided and a small force went to bomb the docks at Antwerp and Rotterdam. At Rotterdam the British aircraft were fortunate enough to find a patch of clear weather. Seen From Channel Coast The press has given prominence to the fact that observers on the Channel coast last night were able clearly to see the progress of the relentless Royal Air Force bombing attacks on the French invasion ports which were described as the “greatest of all raids” on these targets. Attacks have also been delivered on enemy coastal positions in the Low Countries.

At the same time the press emphasises the importance of the unremitting attacks on Lorient. the submarine base which is the chief German port I'or Atlantic raiding. Again last night Lorient was bombed after two raids during the day and heavy attacks on Friday night. The repeated bombing last week ot the Marignac aerodrome, near Bordeaux, from which the Nazis send some of their heaviest bombers against the British ocean sea routes, as well as the attacks on Lorient, produced expressions of satisfaction that the “hornets” which try to sting British shipping are being continuously harassed in their nests.