BIG FIRES CAUSED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20859, 11 August 1942, Page 3

BIG FIRES CAUSED

R.A.F. OVER REICH OSNABRUCK TARGETS SCATTERED NAZI RAIDS (By Telegraph—-Press Assn.—Copyright.) (11 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 10. The railway and industrial centre of Osnabruck and other objectives in north-west Germany were attacked last night by a strong force of Royal Air Force bombers. The docks at Le Havre and airfields in the Low Countries were also bombed. Six of our bombers and one fighter are missing. Pilots who took part in the raid reported that many large fires had been started, the railway yards, in particular, suffering severely. One pilot reported that he was still able to see the reflections from the fires when he was over Holland, 180 miles away, on his return journey. Osnabruck, an important city in Prussia, lies on the River Hase, about 70 miles west of Hanover. It has a population of 100,000 people and is noted for its iron and steel industries. Of at least equal importance from a military point of view, however, are its large railway junctions, which serve a large network of communications. Last Week’s Losses The Berlin News Agency says that British bombers flew over . western Germany last night and caused several fires in large Westphalian town. During last week, British air losses over Gennany and occupied territory were 17. Two German aircraft were shot down. The Ruhr was attacked on three consecutive nights, Duisberg being the chief target. Over occupied territory fighters continued to disrupt enemy communications, _ attacking railways and coastal shipping. Enemy activity over Britain was on a slightly increased scale, mostly in the coastal areas. Thirteen of their machines were shot down. Three enemy bombers were destroyed over Britain last night. Raiders were reported over the south coast, East Anglia, the east Midlands, and .the north-east coast. Incendiaries and high explosive bombs were dropped in scattered areas, but the damage was not considerable. A Heinkel 111 crashed in the residential area of a town, blew up, and set fire to a house, causing some casualties.