Coastal Command’s Attack On Warships: Berlin Version

Northern Advocate, 15 January 1940, Page 5

Coastal Command’s Attack On Warships: Berlin Version

(Received 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, January 14

Berlin newspapers publish an eyewitness’ account of the recent R.A.F. Coastal Command planes’ attack on three German destroyers off Horn’s Reef, 25 miles off the coast of Jutland. The witness says the German destroyers were lying in wait for enemy merchant ships attempting to reach England. Several times he saw the wreckage of ships which had started the voyage, in spite of warnings, and had been sunk by the destroyers. Hit Their Mark, Suddenly he sighted eight planes, two flying lower than the others. When these attacked, anti-aircraft guns roared and hit their mark with the first shot. ‘‘One crashed into the sea, 100 yards away, and broke up,” he says, “while a second of the lower planes was hit, but escaped. “Meanwhile, six more British planes approached the destroyers, but accurate anti-aircraft fire made two machines each drop two bombs far astern. “Then all the planes turned for home.” Not Understood, The reference in today’s German High Command communique to the attack by British aircraft on a German island during Friday night is not understood here, says a British Official Wireless message. The flight on which aircraft of the R.A.F. were engaged! on Friday night was the normal security patrol.