GERMAN ACCOUNT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 219, 14 August 1940, Page 8

GERMAN ACCOUNT.

REMARKABLE CLAIMS. Received August 14, 12.45 p.m. BERLIN, Aug. 13. A communique states tnat German air units yesterday attacked harbours and aerodromes on the English south and south-east (toasts, plastering Portsmouth with bombs'. Large power works and the wharf at Gosport were set on fire, and bombs hit uock and quay installations, also a patrol vessel in the Channel. Violent air battles ensued in which 43 planes were shot down. “We destroyed or set fire to hangars,, workshops, and barracks at the Manston and Lympno aerodromes. A British fighter squadron at Manston was caught taking off and four planes on the ground were destroyed, aiso three Hurricanes in the a ir. A further eight planes on the ground were destroyed at the other points. “the German planes near Dover set fire to two barrage balloons. The enemy lost thirty planes in the battles m this region. “Dive-bombers attacked a stronglyguarded convoy at Southend and sank rwo merchantmen totalling 5500 tons, and set lire to another ship. Bombing attacks were carried out against shipping targets at Swansea and Cardiff last night, also against anti-aircraft batteries and searchlight bases near Plymouth and the Humber Estuary. British harbours continue to be “British planes last night bombed Northern and Western Germany, with no great damage. Four enemy planes were shot down yesterday. Ibej have lost 92 planes; 24 .German /planes are missing. We were successful in. a it between several German mmeslnps and a number of enemy motor-boats in the North Sea. It may be assumed that at least one enemy motor-boat failed to reach port. Our boats wore not damaged and continued their journey according to plan.” (According to London all these small ships reached port.) . . The German News Agency to-night claimed that 69 British planes had been shot down, including 16 over Aalborg, but admitted thirteen German losses. It added: “German raids have robbed Britain of inost of her more important strategic air bases and have seriously impaired the fighting power of an air force even as large as the II A.F. No German bomber lias so far been forced back before reaching its r'oal. The British fighters attackin'’’ spirit has noticeably decreased. A South-Coast town in the afternoon was raided for the 56tli time, with little damage and no casualties. A dive-bomber during the raid unsuccessfully attacked two naval vessels. FRENCH IN ACTION.

General de Gaulle’s headquarters announces that French 75’s, after adaptation for anti-aircraft work, and manned by his naval forces, shot down two bombers in a recent raid on a South-Coast port. French ships joined the land defences and put up'heavy barrages. This was the first time the French “free naval units have been in action. . Violent anti-aircraft fire sent back a formation of twelve bombers approaching a south-east town. They later returned and three “dog-figlits” occcurred. . One German fell into the.-sea.