BIG GUN DUEL

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21784, 14 October 1940, Page 7

BIG GUN DUEL

Channel Cannonade Bombers Again Pound Germany United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received October 13, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 12. In addition to the severe visitations on London, provincial and Scottish towns from the air, the Germans to-night launched a most terrific artillery attack across the Channel. Both the Calais and Cap Gris Nez batteries opened up at first, simultaneously, shelling Dover. Salvoes fell at three-minute intervals for hours. The night was moonlit and the straits as calm as a lake. English guns answered the Germans blast for blast, while the Royal Air Force heavily bombed the German positions. The cannonade began at 8.30 and continued almost without interruption until midnight. The Air Ministry also reported: “Adverse weather conditions restricted the operations of our bombers last night. Nevertheless widespread military objectives in Germany and enemy occupied territory were attacked, including oil plants, factories and docks at Kiel, Hamburg, Bremenhaven, Westermude, Wilhelmshaven and several aerodromes. The offensive against Channel ports from Rotterdam to Cherbourg was continued. AU our ’planes returned.” Difficult Flying Weather According to a British Official Wireless message an Air Ministry bulletin describing last night’s British raids says: “The heavy bombers encountered what one pilot called ‘impossible weather’ on the way to some of the targets. Near the Dutch coast the sky was completely overcast and below a depth of thick clouds dense fogs and rainstorms hid land and sea. In addition severe icing conditions handicapped the pilots. The docks at Kiel and Wilhelmshaven were again attacked and aerodromes in the Friesian Islands provided other targets. The bombers which attacked Wilhelmshaven found a patch of clear weather over the target, although ground haze prevented detailed observation. An enormous white explosion followed the release of a very heavy bomb on the dock area and fires were seen after attacks from other aircraft. Bremen was attacked at the same time and at Kiel a series of explosions was observed after the raid and three fires were blazing when the bombers left. The docks and Deutsche petroleum works at Hamburg were also bombed and fires started in the early stage of the attack. Several aerodromes on the islands strung along the Dutch and German coast suffered severely, among them being De Kooy, Texel, Norderney, Wangerroog and Sylt. During the attack on De Kooy, where fires and explosions were observed, a heavy bomber was attacked by two enemy fighters. The Royal Air Force rear-gunner fired three long bursts at 150 yards. One enemy fighter went down and disappeared in a swish of water. The other immediately sheered off. At Den Helder one pilot came down to 5000 feet in order to attack shipping along the quayside. Five fires followed and from the observer's report it is evident that ships and sheds were hit. Other bombs are known to have fallen on a jetty. The invasion ports were again attacked, including Antwerp, Ostend, Calais, Boulogne and Le Treport. A large explosion and fires in the inner harbour at Boulogne were among the results observed. At Ostend bombs fell across the outer harbour and fires were started at several bases.