SHOCK TO BERLIN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20630, 11 August 1941, Page 5

SHOCK TO BERLIN

RUSSIAN BOMBS DEFENCES SURPRISED MOSCOW RAIDED AGAIN (Elec. Tel Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Aug. 11, 10.40 a.m.) LONDON. Aug. 10. The Moscow radio stated yesterday that Russian aircraft made another flight over Germany on Friday night, dropping high-explosive and incendiary bombs on Berlin, on military targets and railways. The aircraft did not meet strong German antiaircraft defences. One Russian aircraft was missing. An official Moscow communique, referring to Friday night's Russian raid on Berlin, says the pilots observed fires and explosions. One Soviet plane which did not return to the base is being sought. Surprising the German defences, the Soviet Air Force struck its first blow against Berlin on Thursday night, wfien it swept in like lightning from the north and plastered factories, electrical installations, and power stations, with high-explosive and incendiary bombs, says the Stockholm correspondent of The Times. Three squadrons of heavy TB fourengined bombers of the type which fiew from Moscow to California before the outbreak of the war carried out the raid. They took off from bases at Osel and Dago and completed the 1200-mile trip without interception. Tales by Gobbells The Germans have been trying to conceal the identity of the raiders. An admission of the fact that' the Russians have repaid some of the Luftwaffe’s bombing of Moscow would hardly be compatible with the claims of the Nazi Propaganda Minister, Dr. Goebbels,” concerning the “annihilation” of the entire Red Air Force. Dr. Goebbels dare not reveal this truth. Officially-inspired messages from Berlin even declared that the raio was merely a Luftwaffe manoeuvre to test the new night defences. These messages are ludicrous when read in conjunction with the earlier official announcement that bombs had been dropped, damaging lives and property. The Berlin anti-aircraft detences never went into action. Night fighters went up too late to deal with the raiders. The Moscow radio stated that Soviet planes on Thursday night carried out a reconnaissance over Germany as far as Berlin and attacked military targets in several districts of Berlin. Explosions and fires were observed. All the planes returned. Copies of R.A.F. Photographs The Stockholm correspondent of the Daily Mail says that Russian planes carried copies of Royal Air Force photographs of Berlin’s chief objectives and damage to the most important objectives is believed to have been done. Explaining the German failure to raid Moscow successfully, the spokesman of the Soviet Information Bureau. M. Lozovsky, said yesterday: “We consistently bomb tne aerodromes and refuelling bases in the German rear. The Nazis have failea to destroy our air force, despite their claims. Our fighters are better than theirs. Our pilots have a strongei morale. You can imagine the terrific impression created in Germany by the Soviet raids on Berlin. Of course we are unable to guarantee that you will not be bombed here again.” „ i The library of the Moscow Academy or Science, one or me world’s largest, containing 3,000,000 volumes, was hit by several dozen incendiary bombs in recent raids, states a press message. Sixteen members of the library staff fought the incendiary bombs so effectively that not a single book was lost. Moscow Raiders Downed The Soviet Information Bureau states the Luftwaffe raided Moscow 6n Saturday night and dropped high-explosive and incendiary bombs. At least eight German planes were shot down. ■ A Moscow communique states: — “After two nights without raids, Moscow had an alert last night. Several groups of enemy aircraft attempted to raid Moscow, but were repulsed by night fighters and the A.R.P. Several‘planes broke through and dropped incendiary and explosive bombs, causing fires to some dwellings, which were extinguished. According to preliminary reports, eight enemy planes were brought down without loss to the Soviet Air Force.” The number of casualties was not indicated.