OIL PLANTS BOMBED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25047, 10 November 1944, Page 5

OIL PLANTS BOMBED

TWO ALLIED ATTACKS HOMBURG AND MERSEBURG LONDON, Nov. 8 Lancasters of the R.A. F. Bomber Command, escorted by fighters, attacked the synthetic oil plant at Homburg, in the Ruhr, this morning. There was a clear patch of sky over the target, and the crews were able to identify the target visually. Bombing was very concentrated from the start, and great clouds of smoke soon hid the plant. No enemy fighters were seen, but' the flak was intense. One bomber and one lighter are missing. _ About the same time, some JoU American Fortresses and Liberators attacked the Leuna synthetic oil plant at Merseburg, and the railway yards at Rheine. north-west of Minister. The heavy bombers were escorted to their cloud-covered targets by over 850 Mustangs and Thunderbolts. A United States communique stated that five bombers and 25 fighters had not returned, but the majority of the fighters were believed to be safe in friendly territory. Several groups of fighter's returning home after taking the bombers over the. targets attacked ground targets from tree-top level, destroying or damaging 60 locomotives, 90 railwav cars. 16 motor vehicles, eight balloons, and four barges. HITLER'S SILENCE POSSIBLE NERVOUS ATTACK (fierd. 0.30 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 9 Hitler's silence suggests that there may be truth in the reports coming from Germany through trustworthy channels in the past few days that nerve specialists have lately found him exhausted and urgently advised complete rest for several weeks and the abolition of all work, says the Times' diplomatic correspondent. GENERAL TO RETIRE CANADIAN CHIEF OF STAFF (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) OTTAWA. Nov. 8 The Canadian Minister of Defence, General A. G. L. McNaughton, announced that Lieutenant-Genera] Kenneth Stuart. Chief of Staff at Canadian military headquarters in London, has gone on leave pending his retirement. General Stuart, who is 53, was formerly Chief of the Canadian General Staff. When General McNaughton retired lie took over the command of the Canadian forces in England, and early this year his position was described as Chief of Staff at Canadian military headquarters in London.