RAIDS ON RUMANIA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25560, 13 June 1944, Page 5

RAIDS ON RUMANIA

AMERICAN HEAVY BOMBERS FLOWN FROM RUSSIAN BASES (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON. June 12. Hundreds of Russian-based United States heavy bombers yesterday joined bombers from Italy in co-ordinated attacks against targets in Constanza, Giurgiu. and Smederevo. says the Moscow headquarters of the Eastern Command of the American Air Force, of which Major-general Robert L. Walsh has just been appointed commander. More than 1000 United States planes participated in the attacks, all of which were carried out successfully in fine weather. The crews reported excellent bombing results. One plane is missing. Brigadier-general Ira C. Eaker, commander of the American Eighth Army Air Force, during a visit to the American bases in Russia, twice went to Moscow and conferred at length with representatives of the Sovist’ General Staff. General Eaker. at a press conference, expressed the opinion that shuttle bombing would be a considerable help to the Red Army by hammering communications feeding the German Army on the Russian front. Strong forces of heavy bombers from Italy yesterday attacked oil stores and refineries in the Trieste area. Fighterbombers struck against a refinery at Ploesti. Tactical Air Force planes attacked railways, rail yards, roads, bridges, and other targets in the battle area between Siena and Lake Bolsena. Offensive sweeps were also carried out against objectives in Jugoslavia and Southern Albania. Twenty-seven planes were destroyed for the loss of 28. We flew approximately 2400 sorties. No enemy planes were sighted in daylight over the battle area. Allied bombers last night attacked oil installations at Bruk, in Jugoslavia. A British destroyer on Wednesday night shelled a harbour south-east of Pola. A force of small minesweepers on Friday entered Porto San Stefano. The Germans have evacuated the island. White flags were flying, and the railway connection between the islands and the mainland appeared to be demolished.