Extravagant Vichy Claims

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 229, 27 September 1940, Page 7

Extravagant Vichy Claims

HUNDRED FRENCH PLANES ATTACK THE ROCK

Received Thursday, 8.10 p.m. LONDON, Sept. 26.

A message from Vichy says that officials declare that H.M.S. Renown was hit during the air raid on Gibraltar yesterday and was compelled to leave port.

A French naval despatch to Vichy claims that one of tho two British battleships shelling Dakar was torpedoed and is listing badly. A French cruiser scored direct hits on other warships.

The British Air Ministry states that 26 raiders were shot down to-day. One Italian plane was shot down and two damaged in a raid on Malta. Another was seriously damaged and was unlikely to reach its base.

It is reported from Gibraltar that a hundred French planes from Morocco yesterday afternoon subjected tho Rock to the most severe attack since tho outbreak of the war. They dropped about 300 bombs of various sizes, many falling in the sea, and on barren areas. Buildings and roads in the old defences were considerably damaged. Little damage was done to military works or the personnel. A small ship was hit and sunk. There were a number of civilian casualties, some fatal.

Anti-aircraft guns shot down three and possibly five planes. A number of bombs fell in La Linea (Spain). It is reported from La Linea that the planes circled the Rock in waves of ten for 125 minutes. Smoke enveloped the arsenal and flames leapt from the naval base. Many fires were observed.

The Havas Agency (French) reports that a hundred tons of bombs were dropped on Gibraltar yesterday.