Dover’s Worst Bombardment Yet

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 220, 16 September 1944, Page 5

Dover’s Worst Bombardment Yet

GERMAN LONG-RANGE GUNS Received Friday, 7 pan. LONDON, Sept. 14. People in the Dover area last night had their worst experience of shelling from the German long-range guns since the bombardments began in 1940. More shells were sent over than ever, and the guns were in action for a record period of terror shelling. The attack lasted from 4 p.m. yesterday until well into the early hours to-day. Shelling warnings operated for 11 hours without any extensive lull in the attack. All places of entertainment were closed, but licensed houses remained open until the normal closing time. The Germans started with oneround salvoes, increasing to six rounds simultaneously when darkness fell. Each shell weighs about one ton, and hundreds were fired. The shelling was resumed this afternoon in twos and threes. Southeast England coastal towns were still under shell warnings from the German Channel guns at dusk. The shelling went on hourly from midday, with an occasional lull of 15 to 30 minutes. The rate of fire was at times speeded up. Twice three shells exploded in less than five minutes. The rate of fire increased at dusk. The daylight bombardment began after 10 hours of night shelling, which ceased at 3 a.m. Waves of Allied planes are believed to have heavily bombed targets in the Boulogne area this afternoon. Holidaymakers in one town have been advised to move out.