BRILLIANT ACTION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 217, 12 August 1940, Page 7

BRILLIANT ACTION

CONFLICT ON THURSDAY. PREMIER’S CONGRATULATIONS, (British Official Wireless.) Received August 12, 9.50 a.m. RUGBY, Aug. 11. The Prime Minister (Mr Churchill) has sent congratulations to the R.A.F. fighter squadrons engaged in Thursday’s brilliant action. His message expresses the War Cabinet’s admiration of tlieir skill and prowess, and congratulations on the defeat and heavy ’ losses inflicted ufion the far more numerous enemy.

The Sunday Observer comments editorially on the German accounts of last Thursday’s air battles over the Channel and of tho shipping' losses, in which the distortion of the truth has now reached quite a ludicrous pitch. It writes: “To put the best face on a reverse mav be a temptation, to the most unscrupulous belligerent. But for turning it into a victory there must be urgent reasons. The Germans, who sank 5000 tons of shipping in the Channel fight, ciali it 07,000 tons in their bulletins, and reduce their loes of 60 planes to 10 and iperease the 16 British casualties to 49. “Hitler appears to appreciate that truth is his most dangerous enemy.” GREAT GERMAN LOSS. THURSDAY’S BATTLE. . ' LONDON, Aug. 10. _ Informed circles in London now estimate that Germany lost planes valued at £768,000 in the Channel raids on Thursday. The British plane losses were £128.000 and the shipping losses below £125,000. The Times says • the clay’s bag brought tho total machines shot down around our coasts to 394, nf which 260. were fighters and tho remainder represented 29 other types. The total, including the Fleet Air Arm’s bag, exceeds 400.

The Times reveals that the convoy consisted of 20 small ships totalling 18,000 tons. It admits that it was a successful attack, but scorns Germany’s exaggerated estimate of the damage. It says that the British estimate of the German losses is an understatement and no exaggeration. Tho Berlin radio declares that planes flying General de Gaulle’s colours will be combated by every means. They are beyond the rules of war, and the crews cannot be treated as prisoners of war. LESS DARING RAIDS.

Germany resumed her air raids against Britain on Friday, but after Thursday’s costly adventure kept her armadas aground and used fast Messerschmitt- fighters for machinegun attacks. A few bombers also operated. Fighters twice raided south-east towns in the evening and concentrated on the balloon barrages, probably a preliminary to later bombing raids. A terrific anti-aircraft barrage kept the majority high until British fighters appeared and chased them across the Channel.

Four raiders attacking one town at a tremendous height screamed down with machine-guns blazing. Shrapnel fell in the streets, but there were no casualties. »

The Madrid radio announces that a raider flew over Gibraltar from the Mediterranean and that explosions were heard in the direction of the arsenal.