RAIDS RESUMED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24540, 24 March 1943, Page 3

RAIDS RESUMED

BOMBING IN EUROPE < AMERICAN ATTACK GERMAN U-BOAT BASES (Reed. 6.35 p.m.) LONDON, March 22 After a lull, due to bad weather, the air war flared up with 24 hours' almost continuous activity along the European coast from the Bay of Biscay to Wilhelmshaven. The offensive was reopened with Whirlwinds attacking Western Franco and they wore followed by a raid by Venturas on Maasluis, in Holland, fighters "train-busting" in the north of France and Flying Fortresses and Liberators in a successful onslaught on Wilhelmshaven to-day. United States Air Force heavy bombers made their third l'aid on the German U-boat base at Wilhelmshaven. Tho bombers wont over without fighter protection and met strong enemy fighter opposition. Fighters Greet Bombers In spite of this activity of enemy fighters, they were able to drop their bombs and, according to the observers, the results were good. On the return journey the bombers met with further heavy fighter opposition. It is not known how many enemy aircraft were shot down, but our Allies lost three bombers. Berlin radio admitted that damage and casualties were suffered at Wilhelmshaven. Royal Air Force bombers to-night made a heavy attack on the great German U-boat base of St. Nazaire, on the French Atlantic coast. One aircraft did not return. The Air Ministry says that Whirlwinds on Sunday night, for tho second night in succession, attacked a viaduct at Morlaix, in Western France. In spite of intense anti-aircraft fire the bombers flew in low, and several hits were seen on the target. They also attacked two railway bridges in the area, which is a vital Nazi supply line. None of our planes is missing. Mosquitoes In Combat The Fighter Command's latest longrange fighters and twin-engined Mosquitoes scored their first victory in daylight when two of them destroyed two Junkers 88 well out in the Bay of Biscay, 60 miles west of the Gironde Estuary. One Mosquito spotted some aircraft low above the water. The British planes then went to the attack and it was not long before two enemy aircraft had been destroyed and the remainder were making for the French coast. Operations of the Mosquitoes in the Bay of Biscay mean a 1000-mile round flight. BOMBS ON ENGLAND LONDON, March 23 Enemy planes were over north-east England during the night and antiaircraft gunners were in action. The raiders dropped high explosives and incendiaries at a number of points. NAVAL CHANGES ! SEVERAL MAJOR POSTS r admiralty announcement LONDON, March 22 The following naval appointments are ' announced: — [ Admiral Sir John Tovc-v, Commander- • in-Chief Home Fleet since 1940, is to ' be Commander-in-Chief The Nore in succession to Admiral Sir George Lyon. I Vice-Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser, formerly Third Sea Lord and Controller at ' the Admiralty, and Chief of Staff of 1 the Mediterranean Fleet, to be Com-mander-in-Chief Home Fleet, with the acting rank of admiral, in succession to Admiral Tovey. Acting-Vice-Admiral Sir E. N. Syfert to be a Lord Commissioner of'the Admiralty and Vice-Chief of the Naval ! Staff, in succession to Vice-Admiral Sir > H. R. Moore. I Rear-Admiral W. R. Patterson to be a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty ' and an assistant Chief of the Naval i Staff, in succession to Rear-Admiral R. • R. McGrigor, who will shortly take up [ another appointment. Vice-Admiral Sir H. R. Moore to be ' Vice-Admiral Commanding the Second > Battle Squadron and Second-in-Com-s niand of the Home Fleet in succession ; to Vice-Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser. ' Acting-Vice-Admiral A. U. Willis to f be flag officer commanding Force "H" in succession to Acting-Vice-Admiral - Sir E. N. Syfert. i Captain ft. M Servas to be Assistant I Chief of the Naval Staff with the act- ■ ing rank of rear-admiral, in succession , to Rear-Admiral H. B. Rawlings, who s will shortly take up another appoints ment. I ; JAPANESE IN CHINA GAS USED AFTER DEFEAT (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) CHUNGKING, March 22 A charge that the Japanese used gas in a battle in the south of Hupeh Province, where the Japanese are striving : to safeguard their communications to Ichang, is made in a Chinese communique. It says that after a bitter counterattack in one sector the Japanese in • retaliation resorted to gas attacks. Over 100 Chinese officers and men were affected, suffering from skin blisters, sore throats, vomiting, suffocation and stomach pains. The communique says these mean tactics to camouflage defeat have been reported on many previous occasions. , RIVER PORT BOMBED HEAVY AMERICAN ATTACKS LONDON, March 23 American bombers based in China have made a series of damaging attacks over a period of five days on the Japanese base of Laukai, in Indo-China. This town and river port is on the Red River, IGO miles north-west of Hanoi. Docks, warehouses, dumps and rolling stock were among the targets. All the American planes got back. NEOLITHIC SITE ACQUISITION OF AVEBURY I LONDON, March 22 Tho National Trust announces tho acquisition of nearly 1000 acres of the Avebury (Wiltshire) group of prehistoric remains and one of the most important such groups in Europe. The property acquired includes practically the whole area covered by the AvebuTy, circles and the whole of the famous ; neolithic site of Windmill Hill. PREVENTION OF WASTE CANBERRA, March 23 In order to control waste in Australian war factories, to which a report by the Auditor-General has directed attention, the Treasury has appointed a panel of four to consider cost-plus contracts generally. The arrangement by which all production risks are borne by the Government is likely to be changed, according to the political correspondent of the Sydney Sun.