DAMAGE AT KIEL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 295, 16 December 1940, Page 5

DAMAGE AT KIEL

EVIDENCE SEEN IN PHOTOGRAPHS

RAID BY THE R.A.F. IN JULY [ British Official Wireless. J Received Dec. 14, 5.5 p.m. RUGBY, Dec. 13. Aerial photographs taken by the R.A.F. immediately after the raid by British bombers on Kiel early in July have now been released and they show incontrovertibly that severe damage was done to the enemy war machine. Examination by experts revealed that shipping and at least two important objectives ashore were definitely damaged. One picture shows the water in the harbour partially covered with a substance which probably emanated from pipelines broken by a bomb attack.

The heaviest damage ashore was caused to the main power station in the old Imperial yards (now known as the Deutsche Werke yards) and the torpedo and gun store of the naval arsenal. Photographs show that the power station roof is undergoing extensive repairs, while in the store roof there is a large gaping hole directly in the centre. The size of the hope suggests that considerable damage was done to the delicate equipment inside the building.

The battle-cruiser Scharnhorst is shown in the floating dock, ana experts consider that the foremost control tower is damaged. In a dry-dock lies the pocket-battle-ship Lutzow—originally known as the Deutschland. This ship, which has been damaged by the submarine Spearfish in the Skagerrak, is believed to be still undergoing repairs in drydock and it is reasonable to assume that she was further damaged in the July air raid.