ROCKET BOMBS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25050, 14 November 1944, Page 5

ROCKET BOMBS

EFFECTS OF EXPLOSIONS ESCAPES AND TRAGEDIES LONDON. Nov. 12 Commentators, summing up likely developments of the long-range German rocket, V2, agree that there is not much likelihood of improvement to a stage that would make it at all effective as a military weapon. They point out that, in spite of its special qualities, V2 is proving only about a quarter as devastating as a single one of many thousands of big bombs which, with far greater precision. Allied airmen are now dropping on the enemy. It is essentially a flying shell with a range far greater and accuracy far less than that achieved by any shell fired from a gun. People who claim to have seen the rocket describe it variously as being like a "flying telegraph pole," a "luminous pencil," a "great black arrow," and a , red ball the size of a football." Many say that it comes through the air like a flash of lightning. Incidents have occurred at widelyscattered places. Holes have been suddenly blown in fields and no casualties have been caused. Other rockets hare demolished homes without warning, ard killed people going about their work, or have struck hospitals, causing severe blast damage and serious casualties. There have been somfe astonishing escapes. A policeman had every button blown off his tunic, and his helmet and torch were blown away, yet he was unhurt. A village postman, delivering let- i ters, was blown through the doorway j of a house along the hall and into the living room. He was only slightiy bruised. A children's tea party was 'in progress in a house when a rocket fell, exploding in the roadway. A'number of houses, including the one where the party was being held, were demolished, and several others were severely blasted. Many victims were not found, even after days of excavation. TROUBLE IN DENMARK MORE DAMAGE TO AALBORG (Reed. 6.10 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 18 The German-controlled Danish radio has reported more trouble in Aalborg, a port in Northern Denmark. The radio says the main street has been destroyed by at least five bombs. The blast caused considerable damage to buildings elsewhere, and the total loss is estimated at hundreds of thousands of pounds. The Danish radio in the past few months has regularly reported damage by patriots at Aalborg. Among the buildings reported destroyed were factories, a power station and the Aalborg tram depot. The Royal Air Force last month destroyed the headquarters of the Gestapo in this port. JAPAN AS AGGRESSOR REFERENCES TO HISTORY (Rccd. 9.15 p.m.) NEW YORK, Nov. 13 In an oblique reply to Marshal Stalin's characterisation of Japan as an aggressor nfttion, the Tokyo radio said that all the Western nations, Britain, America, France, Holland, Portugal, Spain and Russia had been guilty oi aggression in the most form two or three centuries ago. The SovietPolish war, the Mesopotamia incident, and the Nicaragua!! and Cuban incidents were among modern flagrant cases of aggression. Is it an act of injustice to demand rectification of an injustice forced under duress, asked the radio. If so, let it be remembered afresh by the world that Japan will punish an act of aggression resolutely, even staking her own existence. MERCANTILE DISPUTE FIVE SHIPS PUT TO SEA (Reed. 7.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, Nov. 18 Five of the Australian freighters which have been held up by the dispute over the reduction of the mercantile war risks bonus payments to crews have put to sea. Four other vessels similarly involved are still in port. The Maritime Industry Commission will review the reduction of war risk bonuses this week. Official investigation made by the commission reveals that ships operating in Australian waters spend approximately two days in port for each day they are at sea. Tlio war risk bonus applies on wages while the vessel is ill port, as well as at sea. So far, only ships' cooks, have been concerned in the dispute! '