BIGGEST BID YET

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20601, 31 October 1941, Page 5

BIGGEST BID YET

MOSCOW AIR RAID LOSS OF 39 PLANES REDS BOMB BERLIN (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Preen Aean.S (Reed. Oct. 31, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 30. German air activity, especially in the Moscow sector, has increased recently, according to the Moscjow wireless. Last night, it is stated, Soviet aircraft were raiding Berlin while the Luftwaffe was over Moscow. It is pointed out that the German aerodromes are now considerably nearer to the Soviet capital, and their bombers have been raiding the city four and five times daily. Since the beginning of the war, the Moscowwireless states, 400 enemy planes which have tried to attack Moscow have been shot down—some 10 per cent of the attacking force. During this time only 170 to 180 German planes succeeded in actually reaching Moscow, and of these the majority, it is stated, were shot down. Over 300 German Planes

The biggest raid against Moscow that the Luftwaffe has yet attempted was carried out yesterday, according to the Moscow wireless. Over 300 planes, it is stated, were flung into the attack, but it proved no more successful than the 'numerous other German attacks which had taken place with increasing ferocity during the past few days. Only single planes penetrated the defence zone, said the announcer, and then dropped bombs at random, mostly on open ground. The Germans lost the largest number of aircraft so far brought down in a single action —39. Only a few machines penetrated the city’s defences, bombing residential districts at random and causing casualties. The Moscow radio earlier announced that Russian bombers attacked Berlin last night, dropping incendiary and high-explosive bombs on military and industrial targets. Fires and explosions were observed. The Soviet planes also dropped leaflets in the German language.