RUHR BATTLE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 24 June 1943, Page 2

RUHR BATTLE

TASK OF BOMBER COMMAND SEVERAL CENTRES DEVASTATED GERMAN PRESS COMMENT (Rec. 11.50 a.m.) London, June 23 The R.A.F. Bomber Command’s task in the Ruhr is almost complete, nays the British United Press aviation commentator. Last night’s raid on Mulheim leaves only such isolated Ruhr towns as Gelsenkirchen, Ifamborn and Herne unvisited by a force of R.A.F. bombers which the «■* Air Ministry estimates is large . enough to wipe out a town of 200,000 in one night.

Gelsenkirchen is a steel and chemical town with a population of just£” over 200.000. Herne has a population of 70,000. The major production centre of the Ruhr in the past 30 days has been laid waste in fulfilment of Mr Churchill’s promise that the bombing.** weapon would be used to the full. - Dormund, Essen. Wuppertal, Bochum,» Cb:n hausen, Krefeld and Mulheim were \ all devastated in smashing raids. These * towns, with Gelsenkii ffien, HamboriVv and Herne are the Ruhr, and once thejf *; are obliterated there nothing of majorimportance left. Tow* against the', Ruhr are falling so fas that the Ger / mans have not a chance to rebuild or » repair the shattered cities and factories. At a conservative estimate the battle of the Ruhr is more than half over. The raid against Mulheim last night was the climax to a month in which 10,000 tons of bombs were dropped. As well as the raids against the Ruhr, the Bomber Command in the same period carried out heavy raids against Dusseldorf, Munster. Cologne, Friedrichshafen, and Le Creusot. POPULATION’S ORDEAL Beilin radio to night declared, "What the population of Oberhausen. Mulheim, Rhine and the Ruhr endured lately is unbelievable. In the past 48 hours anti-aircraft batteries and fighter stations were incessantly on the alert.” To day’s German communique states: “British and American air forces in daylight and night on 22nd June carried out several heavy attacks against towns in western Germany and occupied territories. Substantial damage was caused, particularly to residential areas at Oberhausen and Mulheim, and the population suffered considerable casualties.”

The Allied air offensive against Europe continued to day when many planes were observed crossing the Channel and within a few minutes bombs were heard crashing down. The attack appeared particularly fierce and continuous. Great flashes and gigantic, red glows lit the European sky. sug * gesting that many fires were started.