TARGETS OF OIL

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21218, 14 September 1940, Page 7

TARGETS OF OIL

DAMAGE IN GERMANY 1500 RAIDS CARRIED OUT BRITISH SUCCESSES (omclal Wireless) (Received Sept. 14, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 13 Over 700 of the 1500 bombing raids carried out by the Royal Air Force on Germany and German-occupied territory, covering 200 localities, have been on territory of the Reich itself. The chief objectives have been oil depots, refineries, armament works, aircraft works, aerodromes, docks, naval bases, goods yards, rail junctions, main lines, barges, shipping on canals, etc. The particular importance which attaches to attacks on synthetic oil plants and oil refineries is appreciated when it is recalled that Germany’s production is 6,200,000 tons and Germany’s synthetic production 2,500,000 tons. Forty per cent of this synthetic production, 1,000,000 tons, is in Western Germany and has been continuously and heavily attacked during the last two months. A further 1,300,000 tons is in Central Germany, and attacks on these plants have now begun, including Leuna, which has an output of about 400,000 tons annually. Another very important part of the German oil industry is her refining plant. Germany has a total refining capacity of about 3,000,000 tons yearly. Of this total about 2,500,000 tons is situated in Hamburg, Bremen and Western Germany, including Hanover, including all the producers of high-grade lubricating oils. Owing to the shortage of crude oil supplies other than from domestic wells and Russian imports, these reneries are not likely to have been working at full pressure, but they still are extremely suitable targets because a very large percentage of Germany’s commercial storage capacity is located at the oil refineries, i S’ therefore, Germany wishes to hold large stocks, she has to store a considerable proportion at refineries liable to constant attack by the Royal Air Force. The whole of the 2,500,000 tons refinery capacity in Western Germany has been attacked heavily and repeatedly. Blinding: 'Fire from Guns The pilot of an aircraft which last night dived down to nearly ground level over Flushing dockyard in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire and dropped his bombs, said, describing the exploit: “We were fairly low when they opened up. I have never seen anything like it, there was so much of it. “ I Put down her nose and hoped for the best. The searchlights were holding us all the time. I just kept my eyes on the instruments and on the docks. If one had looked round one would have been blinded. “As we went over the bombaimer made certain all the bombs were gone. “We dropped them and they landed right in the centre of the dock buildings. “ Immediately we were thrown to 600 feet. There were tremendous explosions, the second pilot, who was standing beside me, being knocked off his feet. I was just concentrating on trying to keep the aircraft in the air and get away. There was a curtain of fire on all sides. We went through.” Ships in the harbour also opened fire on the aircraft with heavy arm quickfiring guns as well as the lighter type of anti-aircraft guns. The pilot sent out an S.O.S. that he was likely to come down, but was attempting to get home. Flying very low over the sea he managed to bring the aircraft back and made a safe landing at the base.

FIRE DEFENCE WORKERS

STRIKING TRIBUTE PAID “DEATH AT THEIR ELBOW” (United Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 13 After touring the metropolitan districts, Mr Wyndham Mcßane, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Home Security, paid in a broadcast address a striking tribute to London’s fire defence workers. “Blackened men with bloodshot eyes are manning hoses among the dying Harness, scorning relief, which they know is not available,” said Mr Mcßane. “Women ambulance drivers are waiting to take away casualties, while fire threatens to cut off their retreat.

“Men work on in the presence of a time-bomb until it explodes, causing deaths among them. “These things are woven in the tapestry of the country’s heroism—men and women working hy the light of fire with death at their elbow.”

IN RUMANIA

KING TO MEET MOTHER QUESTION OF MINORITIES (United Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 13 King Michael of Rumania is to leave Bucharest today for the Yugoslav frontier to meet his mother, Queen Helen, who is returning to her country after 10 years exile. The question of German minorities in Rumania is reported to be coming to a head. A manifesto is stated to have been issued, in which there are demands for the recognition of Germans as an autonomous body, for exemption of Germans from Rumanian military service, and for the use o[ the German language.