Invasion Ports Targets In “Greatest Raid”

Northern Advocate, 30 December 1940, Page 6

Invasion Ports Targets In “Greatest Raid”

[British Official Wireless ] (Received 11 a.m.) RUGBY, December 29. The Press gives -prominence to the fact that observers on the Channel coast last night were able to see clearly the progress of the relentless Royal Air Force bombing attacks on French invasion ports, described as “the greatest of all raids” on these targets. Attacks were also delivered on enemy coastal positions in the Low Countries. Chief Raiding Base. At the same time the Press emphasises the importance of the remitting attacks on Lorient submarine base, which is the chief German base for Atlantic raiding. Again last night Lorient was bombed after two raids during the day and heavy attacks on Friday nightRepeated bombing last week of the Merignac aerodrome, near Bordeaux, from which the Nazis send some of their heaviest bombers against British ocean routes, as well as attacks on Lorient, produced expressions of satisfaction that the “hornets” which try to sting British shipping are being continuously harassed in their nests. Other Raids. On Friday night the stores, barracks, dry docks and power station at Lorient were bombed. At Cherbourg the docks were straddled, while at Bordeaux bad weather made it difficult to find the target, but many bombs were seen to burst among the hangars. The aerodrome and shipbuilding yards at St. Nazaire were also bombed. The programme of mine-laying in enemy waters was continued. Skua aircraft yesterday attacked enemy shipping and harbour works in the Haguesuend area, north of Stavanger, (states an Admiralty communique. One enemy supply ship of 4000 tons, lying alongside a jetty, was hit and set on fire. One of the enemy’s anti-aircraft guns was silenced by machine-gun fire. All the British machines returned safely.

The Air Ministry communique last night says that in bad weather, formations of R.A.F: bombers attacked oil targets at Rotterdam, Antwerp and the invasion ports of Boulogne and Cherbourg. Lorient was again attacked, .and a large fire observed. Two of our planes are missing from the Boulogne raid.

Such or the cable news in this Issue as is so headed has appeared in “The Times’’ and is sent to this paper by special permission. It. should be understood that the opinions are not those of “The Times” unless expressly stated to be so.