100 GERMAN TOWNS

Grey River Argus, 6 August 1940, Page 5

100 GERMAN TOWNS

BOMBED BY R.A.F. In a Thousand Raids [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] LONDON, August 4. The “News of the World” reports that the Royal Air Force has thus far bombed over 100 towns in eastern Germany, carried out over 1,000 raids, and has dropped nearly 400 bombs in Germany and German-occupied territory, for every bomb dropped in Britain. A press correspondent who has examined the headquarters of the Northern Command in Britain, says:— The Army and the ‘Navy know that, if Hitler delays the invasion until Springtime, he may not have a chance to attempt it, but the Royal Air Force is not even waiting for the invader to stake all on a blow by sea and air, while Summer lasts and the high tides of early August and again in September are in his favour. The Royal Air Force not only intends sweeping the skies of Britain clear: of the enemy. It is planning to drop even-heavier loads of bombs on enemy territory than at present. The longer nights ahead will permit raids deeper and more widespread than hitherto. A night bomber station visited intends, like others, to make the fullest use of opportunities to bomb military objectives. Well beyond the Ruhr will be within the range of Whitley ’planes, during the longer hours of darkness. The widespread Royal Air Force bombing has already had the effect of dispersing Germany’s qnti-aircraft defences, which were formerly concentrated around important areas like the Ruhr. German fighters, once never seen at nighttime, are now encountered frequently. It is clear from the reports of observers that Germany’s war machine has already suffered a tremendous hammering. Royal Air Force pilots who have been operating since the outbreak of war are being gradually replaced by fresh personnel. The veterans are being sent back as instructors. SATURDAY NIGHT RAIDS By R.A,F. Bombers IN FRANCE AND HOLLAND. LONDON, August 4. An Air Ministry communique issued to-night states: “Yesterday, bombers of the Royal Air Force continued to harass the aerodromes occupied by the enemy in Holland and France, including Schipol, Haamstede and Abbeville. During the night, oil tanks at Rotterdam, and oil plants at Bottrop and Gelsenkirchen in the Ruhr, and at Nonheim in the Rhine-; land, were attacked. The other targets were aerodromes in Holland and Western Germany, and railway communications in Weshphalia, the Ruhr, and the Rhineland. A heavy attack was also made on the naval base at Kiel. From all these operations three of our aircraft failed to return. In daylight raids on Saturday, the aerodromes at Schipol and Haamstede were again attacked. At Abbeville, one of our bombers, following half an hour after the initial attack, bombed a stores park and machine-gunned troops and a convoy of lorries, from only 50 feet. Between Gravelines and Dunkirk, an armoured train was discovered, and attacked, and barges in the canal east of Bourbourg, near Gravelines, were struck with salvoes of bombs. Fewer enemy fighters were encountered than on the previous day, but the ground defences were strong and accurate. The similarity of the daily communiques issued by the Air Ministry, of Royal Air Force attacks on aerodromes in France and Holland is thought by air circles here to lead the public to minimise their paramount importance, because of their guarded and somewhat official repetition. It must always be remembered that the German High Command itself claims that there has been no “lull in the war,” and that the struggle is going on with the greatest intensity. It is certain that the whole question of the success of an invasion of Britain is bound up with the use the enemy is able to make of these air bases. The work of the Royal Air Force is of the highest value in the defence of Britain, and, as the war progresses, the British people will look back with pride at this matter of fact record of Royal Air Force achievements. KIEL AND COLOGNE BOMBED. RUGBY, August 4. Further details of Royal Air Force attacks announced by an Air Ministry communique, show that some of the most important sources of Germany’s synthetic oil supply wer e attacked last night by the Royal Air Force. Since the first attack on Germany’s oil supplies the enemy have been forced greatly to strengthen their ground defences. Last night, besides firing at the raiders, many shells wer e aimed at the parachute flares, dropped to illuminate the target. The raiders were missed, but: some of the flares were shot down. The docks at Kiel were located b$ other aircraft, in spite of poor visibility, and some of the bombs set fire to naval buildings. At Husum, west of Kiel, the buildings of aerodromes were damaged, the tarmac was hit, and the anti-aircraft fire was abruptly stopped after a rear-gunner, had replied with 200 rounds. | Large goods yards in the northern: part of Cologne were hit with high-1 explosive and incendiary bombs, byj an aircraft which cruised above its objective for about an hour. Aero-' dromes and seaplane bases were also attacked. I BERLIN, August 4. A communique states: British ’planes flew over north-west Ger-! many, but caused less damage to nonmilitary objectives than on previous nights, although they dropped more, bombs.