FOR WHAT USE?

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVI, Issue 22998, 15 September 1944, Page 5

FOR WHAT USE?

Mystery Structure At Watten (8.0 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 14. Allied troops in Belgium found huge holes 50 to 60 feet deep in the ground 1 where a trainload of flying bombs had exploded, states the correspondent of . the Associated American Press. The I bombs were in a train which was I attacked by the Royal Air Force. “The nightmare scene Is a mile from the Albert Canal. We found part of an officer’s jacket but nothing else. Six | of 40 carriages in the train were left 1 standing on the rails. Although their cargoes of robots were melted and twisted by the tremendous heat of the explosion they are still recognisable.” A correspondent at Watten writes: “I have just seen a target on which the Royal Air Force concentrated for months, and which was bombed 33 times. It is an odd looking mass of concrete which is now attracting hosts of French sightseers from a wide area. | (The Air Ministry described Watten as a VI launching base probably connected with V2). The structure stands in the middle of what probably is the most cratered 50 acres in the world. I The Royal Air Force bombs fell on the | great foundation blocks and the roof of the main building, but the roof was so strong that one bomb which tore ' out a chunk failed to penetrate it. Five thousand Todt workers toiled day i and night to build the structure, and : after the Royal Air Force bombing I attempted repairs. The main building is 300 feet long, 200 wide, 50 feet above the ground and 20 underground. It contains a series of pipes, also deep wall slots. There is no clue as to the intended use of these. Subsidiary buildings have corridors connecting them with the main building. Watten may remain a mystery. At any rate, its apparatus does not appear to be suitable for the launching of any (known weapon.”