TWENTY-TWO SHIPS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 194, 18 July 1941, Page 5

TWENTY-TWO SHIPS

VICTIMS OF BOMBERS.

GREAT DAYLIGHT RAID. (United Press Association —Copyright) (Rec. 9 a.m.) RUGBY, July IT. It is now possible to tell in greater detail the story of the daylight attack carried out yesterday by Jjlenbeims of the Bomber Command on Rotterdam, states an Air Ministry communique.

Air reconnaissance yesterday discovered a large concentration of shipping at Rotterdam, including many vessels of 4000 tons and upwards. It is from this port that the enemy's garrisons in occupied territories are largely supplied. A strong force of Blenheims was therefore despatched. It crossed the Dutch coast soon alter 4 p.m.. living in two waves. The Dutch population, first in the fields and then in the streets of the city, waved a welcome to the Blenheims as they swept into attack mast-high.

The destruction caused to the enemy's ships was very great. The following was the main damage caused:—

Eleven ships varying in tonnage between 10,000 and 20,000 were hit and left smoking. The Rotterdamsche-Lloyd liner Baloeran, a motor-vessel ot 17,000 tons, was hit by several bombs, one falling between the funnels. Debris from the ship was thrown high into the air. Two supply ships, each of 4UOO tons, exploded, the flames from one towering above the attacking aircraft. A smaller vessel. of some kind was also hit amidships and exploded. In all, 17 ships of estimated tonnage; between IX).000 and 100,000 have been put out of action either permanently or for a long time to come. Five more ships totalling between 40.000 and -15,000 tons were severely damaged.

On land two warehouses and a factory were left burning fiercely. In approaching their target the Blenheims flew over Dutch territory in "V" formation (the "Victory" sign). Heavy opposition was encountered from the ground defences, and four of our aircraft are missing. Two of these completed their attack and scored direct hits on ships before being shot down. WIDESPREAD OPERATIONS.

The Bomber Command attacked the industrial areas at Hamburg and several other objectives in JNorth-West Germany last night. Tho weather again made observation of the results difficult, but fires were started and many high-explosive bombs were seen to burst on their targets. The docks and warehouses at Boulogne were also bombed. Three of our aircraft arc missing. A Beaufort aircraft of tho Coastal Command attacked a GOOO-tou enemy tanker in the Channel yesterday evening in spite of fierce anti-aircraft fire from live escort ships. The tanker was hit amidships by torpedoes and left sinking Other aircraft of the Coastal Command attacked two enemy ships, each of about 2000 tons, on the west coast of France.

Hudson aircraft on patrol off the coast of Norway bombed an »nemy ship of some 3000 tons. "When last seen the vessel was on lire and settling down by the stern. No aircraft of the Coastal Command were lost on these operations, but one is missing from patrol yesterday.

The Admiralty announces that H.M.S. Lady Somers. an auxiliary vessel of the Fleet, has been sunk. Of atotal complement of 175 officers and men, 138 survivors have been picked up by Spanish ships arid are being landed at a neutral port. DARING LOW DIVE. details of the bombing of a 3500-ton enemy ship on the j' rench coast yesterday morning show that the ship was cleverly camouflaged and was accompanied by a small escort vessel. The pilot of a Coastal Command aircraft was in an ideal position to attack from the sun and at once went down in a dive of several thousand feet. Towards the-end of tin. dive tincrew of tho bomber could see the swastikas painted on the ship's hatches. A few hundred feet above the vessel the pilot released a salvo and pulled out of the dive.

"The supply ship," said the pilot, ■'did not have a chance to fire a single shot at us although we could see a gun on her stern. The escort ship opened up directly she realised we were attacking and gave us everything she had, but it was too late and we were well on the way home." Photographs shown \n London prove that important military damage was inflicted after the first recent severe raids on Minister —described by the Germans as '"an unhappy, cathedral city with no war industries." In point of fact Munster has an aerodrome of considerable size and operational importance, and this was heavily attacked. Many craters were left in the airfield, the aerodrome buildings were completely gutted, and the barracks seriously damaged. Minister is also an important railway junction for east j and west traffic, and this was heavily attacked.—Official Wireless.