Cologne Pounded In Latest Phase Of Ruhr Battle

Northern Advocate, 18 June 1943, Page 3

Cologne Pounded In Latest Phase Of Ruhr Battle

(8.0. W., 1 p.m.) RUGEY, June 17. Bomber Command’s attack on Cologne and other Rhineland objectives last night were closely connected with the battle of the Ruhr, says an Air Ministry news service. Defences did-not open up until the first bombs had gone down. For a few minutes barrage steadily increased, although the town’s belt of searchlights was largely ineffective because of cloud which presently began to reflect light from the fires below. Some 10 minutes after the start cf the attack, there were two huge explosions. British crews saw many enemy fighters on patrol. One Lancaster was riddled with bullets and machine-gun fire from a Junkers 88, which, however, was hit in return, dived away and steeply disappeared. The rear turret of the Lancaster was smashed by cannon-shell and the gunner was wounded in a thigh. One of the propellers was also damaged and all four engines were hit and the intercommunication put out of action, but the pilot nursed the Lancaster back and landed safely.' An Air Ministry communique says that Bomber Command planes last night attacked objectives in Cologne and elsewhere in the Rhineland. Fighters on offensive patrols attacked transport and other targets in Hoi land and Belgium. Fourteen bombers and one.fighter are missing Coal Output Crippled Allied bombing of the Ruhr has crippled Germany’s coal output to such an extent that Swedish ships putting into German ports for cargoes of coal or coke have been forced to return empty, say? the Swedish financial newspaper “Affarsvarlden.” It predicts that Sweden’s coal Imports from Germany between May and October will fall far behind the stioulated 500,000 tone. Rioting Breaks Out Moscow radio reports that German prisoners who only recently arrived on the Russian front said ;hat noting broke out in the Ruhr after the recent R.A.F. raids. Large crowds stormed labour offices in Essen and clashed with the Gestapo. Many were arrested, large sections of the population openly expressing discontent. More R.A.F. Successes This afternoon British fighters in the course of sweeps destroyed three enemy fighters, bringing the day’s total to nine. Two of our fighters are missing. A minesweeper and six enemy aircraft were destroyed by R.A.F. fighters this morning in an attack on transprot and targest in Holland and Belgium. One of our fighters is missing. Luftwaffe Misused The United States Assistant Chief of Air Staff for Intelligence (Mr. Sorenson), in a speech before the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, stated the case for Allied use of precision bombing as opposed to German terror bombing. Referring to Mr. Churchill’s statement in 1917 that bombing for terror alone would never cause a major nation to sue for peace, Mr. Sorenson said that England today was proof of the truth of the statement. On the other hand, Mr. Sorenson emphasised that German failure to win the Battle of Britain was misconception of the use of air force and not proof of the futility of strategic bombing.