OVER 1000 RAIDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23719, 27 July 1940, Page 12

OVER 1000 RAIDS

HAVOC IN GERMANY I f : " PILOTS BRAVE STORMS VITAL POINTS ATTACKED By Telegraph—Press Associatiortr—Copyright iLONDON, July 25 The Royal Air Force has\bombed German-occupied v territories over 1000 times in the last three months. These were not isolated raids, but large-scale operations carried out day and night. Of the total, 517 thrusts directed at main military and industrial centres were made in a month. Attacks on air bases in Belgium, Holland, France and Germany havn made it extremely difficult for Ger-\ many to organise massed attacks on Britain.

Tremendous havoc has been created to oil refineries, munition works, dock yards, aeroplane factories and power plants. Some were rendered practically useless. Sixty-six raids have been made oil the German Navy since the outbreak of flio war. Lightning Strikes Airship

A British official wireless message gives the following Air Ministry communique:—"Heavy rain, thunderstorms and severe icing conditions hampered our bomber operations last night. In spite of this docks at .Kmden, Wilhelmshaven and Hamburg, aircraft factories at Wismar and Wenzcdorf and seaplane bases at Borkum and Texel were attacked. All our aircraft returned safely." Reports from pilots taking part in the raid show that some of tlio worst weather yet encountered in summer was overcome. One bomber was hit by a flash of lightning, which momentarily blinded both the pilot and navigator, while the aircraft itself was shot up some 600 feet. The wireless set of another bomber was made red hot by lightning, and other instruments made temporarily unserviceable. The compass started to swirl and took 40 minutes to settle down again. German Communique A Berlin communique states: "Ono of our speedboats sank an 18,000-ton armed merchantman off Portland. ''German fighters attacked shipping on the English east coast and also industrial plants in south-east England and Scotland. Three merchantmen received direct hits and were probably lost. Our aeroplanes attacked a Vickers aircraft factory at Weybridge, destroying four grounded aeroplanes, and also bombed industrial plants at Great Yarmouth and Glasgow. "Violent dogfights occurred during the attack on a convoy, resulting in six enemy aeroplanes being shot down. Enemy machines penetrated north Germany last night. The enemy yesterday lost 10 aeroplanes. Six of ours are missing."

RAIDERS DRIVEN OFF

ITALIANS OVER GIBRALTAR FEW BOMBS AT ALEXANDRIA (Received July 2G, 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, July 25 Anti-aircraft guns drove off aeroplanes over Gibraltar three times today. A Cairo naval communique says:— "One was killed aud seven were wounded in an Italian raid on Alexandria this morning. A few bombs were dropped indiscriminately, and slight damage was caused." An Italian communique says:— "Italian aeroplanes again bombed the naval base at Alexandria. Fires broke out at Haifa. An Italian submarine was lost. No details are available." The Rome radio announced that considerable damage was caused to the cruiser Gloucester in an engagement near Crete on July 19. It is alleged that the casualties included the commander and nine officers. The Admiralty has no comment to make on the Italian claim to have sunk an Australian destroyer. A Cairo communique states that enemy aircraft raided Haifa early yesterday morning. Several thousand tons of kerosene and lubricating oil were set on fire, but the fire was got under control and prevented from spreading by the early afternoon. Civilian casual-" ties totalled about 100. There were no military casualties.

GIFT OF AMBULANCES AMERICANS IN BRITAIN British Wireless LONDON, July 25 A large part of a fleet of 260 fullyequipped motorised ambulances, surgical units, and mobile first-aid posts of the American Ambulance Brigade in Britain has been accepted in London by the Minister of Health, Mr. Malcolm Mac Donald. Mr. W. B. Phillips, director-general of tho service, presented them on behalf of Americans in Britain.

Mr. Mac Donald said tho vehicles would preserve a distinct and independ< nt status, but would fit in completely with the organisation of Britain's own er.it r"ency services. Some of the vehicles would be posted to every region in England, Scotland and <nul there would be no part of the island where tho citizens would not have reason to thank and bless their American friends' generosity.