BERLIN BOMBED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23770, 25 September 1940, Page 10

BERLIN BOMBED

HEAVY BRITISH EAID ALARM IN tCAPITAL TERRIFIC NOISEj OF GUNS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received September £.|l, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. "24 Berlin was heavily; attacked by British bombers last night. An air raid warning was sounded in the capital about midnight iind lasted for more than three hours. It was the longest of the war. Bombs arc reported to have crashed in the centre of the city. Guns of various si7.es went into action in the fiercest barrage yet heard,: and the terrific noise startled those in shelters all over the city. A fire lit up; the sky over the industrial district in tSto north-west of the city. \ The attacking aeroplancis dived low, coming within range of ttye light antiaircraft guns. Tracer shells; poured into the sky for three hours, buit apparently no raiders were disabled.

A British official commurrilque states: "Throughout last night a hnavy attack was made in and around Berlin. This attack was on a larger scale than any carried out on Berlin before. Extensivo damage was caused. Objectives attacked included a railway station, a power station, gasworks and factoriies, including a motor works."

The Gorman news agency acEmits that a few British bombers were : over the capital and dropped bombs in the outer, northern and eastern suburbs. As usual, it is stated that no military' damage was caused.

The Air Ministry announces aUso that high-explosive bombs dropped ton the Lauta aluminium works startdd big fires and also hit a railway. Foinr fires occurred at the Torgau railway junction, destroying a goods shed.

GERMANY'S OIL DESTRUCTION BY Alg REPEATED BOMBING RAIDS British Wireless LONDON, Septt. 23 Some details of raids by the Royal Air Force on Nazi oil refineries are revealed in authoritative London quarters to-day. As early as the end of August repeated attacks had been delivered on all important oil refineries in notrthwest and west Germany, which account for the bulk of the total German refinery capacity and the largest of which possess storage installations which together form an important pcoportion of Germany's total storage capacity.

Aecording to expert calculation!, these attacks, in addition to reducing the proportion of lubricating oil, resulted in the destruction of a quantity of finished stocks.

As for synthetic oil, 1,000,000 out of a total capacity of 2,500,000 tons is located in western Germany and has been heavily attacked during recent months, while a further 1,250,000 tons capacity, including the famous works in Magdeburg and Leipzig, are being included in the Royal Air Force's early autumn programme.

TRADE MISSION DECISION BY BRITAIN VISIT TO SOUTH AMERICA British Wireless LONDON. Sept. 23 The British Government has decided, with the approval of the Governments concerned, to send a special mission to South America under the leadership of the Earl of Willingdon, who will have the support of Sir Horace Rumbold and Mr. R. H. Brand. The mission will also include Lord Forres, an executive member of the Export Council, and 10 representatives of important industrial and export interests. The mission's object will be to explain to the Governments of the countries visited the British economic policy in the circumstances of war and to promote the export trade of the United Kingdom so far as conditions will allow. It is not intended, however, that the mission should undertake negotiation of commercial agreements. WAR ON SHIPPING MORE GERMAN CLAIMS LONDON, Sept. 23 A Berlin communique says: "A German motor torpedo-boat sank an armed merchantman and damaged a patrol ship off the British coast. "A U-boat sank four enemy merchantmen, totalling 29,000 tons."