OIL REFINERY NEAR VENICE SET ON FIRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 December 1940, Page 5

OIL REFINERY NEAR VENICE SET ON FIRE

British Bombers Fly 1600 Miks MANY ATTACKS ON GERMANY AND OCCUPIED TERRITORY ENEMY CONCENTRATINGON MERSEYSIDE British heavy bombers attacked an oil refinery near Venice, an objective which entailed a 1,600-mile flight and one which the Italians might have thought to be beyond the range of British attack. The oil refinery was set on fire and all the British machines returned safely. During Saturday night’s raids on Germany and occupied . territories, British bombers concentrated on cutting down Germany’s oil supplies. Much damage was done to oil storage establishments at Rotterdam and to the synthetic oil plant at Gelsenkirchen. Cologne and Mannheim were also visited and a number of invasion ports were bombed. Other important objectives raided by the R.A.F. on Saturday night included the Oslo-Bergen railway, the docks at Wilhelmshaven, and the ports of Brest and Lorient. All the British machines returned safely. Enemy air activity over Britain yesterday was confined to a half-hearted attack on places in the west of Scotland. Saturday night’s main enemy attack was on Liverpool and Merseyside.