MYSTERY DEEPENS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 12 January 1940, Page 5

MYSTERY DEEPENS

REPORTED SYLT RAID

AIR MINISTRY’S DENIAL EYE-WITNESSES STATE BIG BATTLE OCCURRED LARGE NUMBER OF PLANES [OJ>.A.—By Electric Telegraph-Copyright] (Received 12th January, ! 1.-Yo a.m*) LONDON, llth January. The mystery of the Sylt air raids deepens as Danish reports confirm that a large number of planes were there to 4 p.m. despite the Air Ministry’s statement that no British planes were in the area after 1 a.m. Reports that the Royal Air Force continuously raided Sylt and engaged in a large-scale battle with Messerschmitts during the daylight hours are without foundation according to the Air Ministry, but all the morning papers give prominence to accounts of the raids and further eye-witness stories alleging that a big battle occurred. A Danish policeman says that he watched the battle. Possibly 100 planes were engaged. An eye-witness on the Danish-German border declares that the Hindenburg causeway was completely cut at one point. Unofficial comment in London suggests that the damage may be due “to other causes.” Repairs to the causeway permitted the resumption of rail traffic this afternoon Further heavy aircraft activity over Sylt was reported last night. THE new messerschmitt FULL DESCRIPTION TO BE Published DETAILS SMUGGLED FROM BAVARIA [U.P.A.-By Electric Telegraph-Copyright] (Received 12th January, 9.0~a7m.) LONDON, 10th January. For the first time in any tongue the journal “Aeroplane” is publishing a full description of Germany’s secret Messerschmitt model 110 which is the twin-engined destroyer plane of which the Nazis greatly boasted. The “Aeroplane” has detailed drawings and photographs of the plane and its factory, which the Australian Associated Press learns were smuggled from Bavaria. POOR MANOEUVRABILITY The secrets of the destroyer plane, known only to a handful of German experts, disclosed that the machine is capable of convoying bombers to any part of Britain. It can travel 820 miles at 305 miles ah hour, 1500 miles at 215 miles an hour and 1750 miles at 175 miles an hour. It possesses a twin can* non with which it could outrange a bomber’s defensive guns, also twin machine-guns which the pilot operates, and the gunne*- operates further twin machine-guns Its poor manoeuvrability, however, and comparatively weak gun-power make them easy prey for British fighters. The new Messerschmitt failed badly in the battle over the Heligoland Bight on 18th December, ahd it is significant that twice as many of the German fighters have been destroyed in France as of any other type. Thus far the German bombers have not destroyed a single British fighter. BERLIN CLAIM THREE BRITISH BOMBERS SHOT DOWN (Received 12th January. 11.30 a.m.) BERLIN, llth January. A communique repeats the claim that the defence forces shot down three British bombers over the Heligoland Bight on 10th January. It. says that a fourth was badly damaged. One German machine crashed.