HEAVY AERIAL ATTACKS

Southland Times, Issue 24153, 15 June 1940, Page 5

HEAVY AERIAL ATTACKS

Bombs Dropped On

Wood

MUNITION TRAIN DESTROYED (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received June 14, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 13. The British Air Ministry states that throughout yesterday, last night and early today, the medium and heavybombers of the Royal Air Force have been continually engaged in attacking the enemy’s lines of communication and supply over an area extending from St. Valery En Caux on the Channel coast through the northern approaches to Paris to Hirson, near the Belgian frontier. In the first raid nearly 1000 incendiary bombs and many high explosives were scattered over the wood of La Mare in which strong forces of the enemy infantry and supplies were concentrated. Large fires wore still burning fiercely when further raiders arrived to bomb the same targets some hours later. Other medium bombers made a vigorous assault on an enemy battery south of St. Valery and its guns were silenced by salvoes of heavy bombs. The French night air communique says that as a result of unfavourable weather the activity of the French Air Force was much reduced in the last 24 hours, but carried out numerous reconnaissances securing valuable information of enemy movements. Our fighters were busily engaged in protective flights. Squadrons of our bombers bombed and machine-gunned troops and attacked bridges and railways.

“Another section in the Seine valley saw a convoy of armoured fighting vehicles near crossroads protected by light-heavy guns. Direct hits with high explosives were made on four of the protecting guns, on two tanks and on at least six lorries. The principal targets attacked during the night included marshalling yards, railway lines, troop and ammunition trains and mechanized units.

“At one point an ammunition train was destroyed, one bomb falling directly on a part of the train caused such a terrific explosion that more than half a mile above the windscreen of the aircraft was blown out. Other bombs wrecked a railway track for hundreds of yards. At Soissons a centre of communication of great importance to the Germans was bombed and extensive damage done to a railway junction.

“Great stretches of woodland to the south-east of Hirson in which German troops and supply columns had sought concealment were set alight, the flames in some instances blocking the roads. Behind the right wing of the enemy’s advance traffic was disorganized by the destructiori of vital roads and railways. At the mouth of the Scneldt attacks were made by other heavy bombers on a battery of anti-aircraft guns which ceased firing. During the night one of our aircraft encountered two enemy bombers and destroyed them both.” ATTACK ON BOULOGNE During yesterday aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm, in co-operation with Coastal Command aircraft, carried out successful attacks upon enemy vessels in Boulogne harbour. A motor torpedo boat was blown up and many bombs were seen to burst among other craft

of this type and among ammunition barges. The harbour mole and military objectives ashore were also successfully bombed. In a bombing attack on an enemy aerodrome at Valines in Norway hits were made on the runways and barracks and upon enemy aircraft assembled at the aerodrome. Enemy supply ships were also bombed near Bergen. The Air Ministry issued the following communique: “Intensive bombing attacks by the Royal Air Force on enemy concentrations in the areas east of Rouen continued throughout yesterday. Troop concentrations and columns of armoured fighting vehicles were heavily bombed. In th~ course of these operations three enemy bombers were shot down. Three of our aircraft are missing. “During the night bombers of the Royal Air Force carried out a series of attacks on the enemy’s lines of communication ranging from the coast to the forest of Ardennes. Damage was done to railway lines and road junctions. Ammunition dumps were blown up and fires started. Enemy aerodromes were also attacked, hangars destroyed and runways damaged. All our aircraft returned safely. “In an attack on Boulogne harbour one enemy motor-torpedo boat was sunk and two others damaged. Damage was also done to the jetty and a lorry park nearby was heavily machinegunned.

“The aerodrome at Vaernes near Trondheim and enemy supply ships and a port near Bergen were also successful;/ attacked. “Over the battle zone in France our fighters shot down seven enemy aircraft yesterday. None of our fighters is missing.”

BOMBS ON BRITISH FREIGHTER (Received June 14, 6.40 p.m.) BUENOS AIRES, June 13. One stevedore was killed and five were wounded, some seriously, when a bomb exploded while cured beef was being loaded on a British freighter for England. A fire spread and caught an oily bilge, but was extinguished quickly. After this a second non-incendiary explosion occurred in a sealed hold indicating the use of a timing device. At least 40 including some members of the crew, stevedores and bystanders were arrested. EXPORTS TO NEW WAR AREAS (British Official Wireless) (Received June 14, 5.30 p.m.) RUGBY, June 13. An export control order made by the Board of Trade today prohibits the export, except under licence, of all classes of goods to Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Lichtenstein, Rumania, Switzerland, Yugoslavia and the Black Sea ports of Soviet Russia. It is pointed out that this step has been made necessary by Italy’s entry into the-war to enable proper control to be exercised over exports to the Mediterranean and adjacent areas. The Board of Trade emphasizes that the order is not to be regarded in any sense as a decision to discontinue trade with the neutral countries in those areas. FRENCH WARSHIP CHASES ITALIAN VESSELS (Received June 14, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 13. • Six Italian ships are seeking refuge at Teneriffe. The crew of an Italian steamer beached the vessel and then went overboard after a French warship in hot pursuit had fired several shells. The warship then went off in pursuit of another Italian ship.