ANSWER TO HITLER

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

ANSWER TO HITLER

UNFLINCHING, DOGGED SPIRIT

GRIM AND VITAL STRUGGLE AHEAD TIDE NOW TURNING VICTORY WILL COME (Official Wireless) (Received Sept. 14, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, September 13 Speaking at Leeds today Sir Kingsley Wood, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said: “Nothing has been a better answer to Hitler in the last few days than the unflinching, dogged spirit of our people—many of them occupiers of small dwellings and humble homes. “ They have realised, and have shown by their courage and confidence, that the front line of this war is as much on their own thresholds as in the lines held by our fighting forces.”

The Chancellor added: “We are only just at the beginning of this grim and vital struggle, and w’e have many perils yet to face. It may well be that the tide is now turning. hut W’e have much to endure, much to suffer, and much to accomplish belore victory comes, as it surely will.”

CONTINUOUS ASSAULT

DEVASTATION ON CONTINENT SERIES OF DIRECT HITS SUCCESS OF BRITISH RAIDS (United Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 13 The Air Ministry states that for nearly four hours on Wednesday night relays of bombers maintained an almost continuous assault upon harbour installations, shipbuilding yards and docks at Hamburg. The first aeroplane reached the target shortly after 9 p.m. and its bombs started a fire in the docks, which served as a beacon for following raiders. As the attack developed other great fires broke out in the dock area and also to the west and north-west of Hamburg. A series of direct hits was scored on jetties and docks to the east and the west of the great Blohm and Voss shipbulding yards. By 10.45 p.m. visibility, which had been good at the start of the raid, had deteriorated and a bomber coming in from the sea to launch its attack found the target covered by low-lying cloud, above which anti-aircraft shells could be seen bursting. Then the cloud cleared over the northern half of Hamburg, enabling the pilot to make for the docks and release his entire load in a single run across the target. At 1 a.m. on Thursday the crew of the last aircraft detailed for the attack could see a huge fire blazing while still 40 miles away from Hamburg. Over the docks they dropped a stick of heavy bombs across a line of shipbuilding yards, but, although the explosion of their bombs was seen, it was impossible for them to assess the damage caused because of the dazzling glow from the great fire raging beneath them. “ Bremen’s on Fire ” Royal Air Force bombers also attacked Bremen for nearly two hours. “ Bremen’s on fire, and what a fire!” remarked a pilot when he returned from the raid. An observer in another bomber said fires were blazing all over the place and made a solid triangle of flame, one side of which must have been two miles long. Fires were raging in all parts oi Ostend when the raid on that port ended after nearly four hours. Two huge explosions sent up a column of black smoke which pierced the cloud layer 10,000 feet over the harbour.

LONDON’S BATTERIES

SEVERAL DIFFERENT CALIBRES SECRET TYPES OF SHELLS TERRIFIC BARRAGE PUT UP (United Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 13 London anti-aircraft batteries are using guns of at least six different calibres up to 4.5in., which is the deadliest of all anti-aircraft guns, says the Daily Mail. Secret new types of shells are hurled up 22,000 feet, the explosions rocking the ether over a wide area. The heavier guns put up a box type of barrage which is sent up in squares from many sections, while light guns fire a terrific barrage against raiders attempting to divebomb targets. Of these guns the Swedish Bofors are the deadliest. Uncanny electric predictors enable the gunners to harass raiders. Britain’s anti-aircraft defences have not been weakened in any district to provide London’s barrage, which can be increased if necessary. Damage in Regent Street The explosion of a delayed-action bomb extensively damaged the fronts of three shops in Regent Street last evening. Windows of buildings on both sides of the street were blown out. The Piccadilly Hotel was slightly damaged. General’s Plane Hit The Rome radio stated that one of the German Generals directing the offensive against Britain participated in yesterday’s raids over London.

His plane was hit but safely landed in France.

ROYAL AIR FORCE

SUMMARY OF ATTACKS GREAT WORK ACCOMPLISHED WIDESPREAD DAMAGE DONE (Unli6d Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 12 The impressive scale of the recent British air attacks on military objectives can best be appreciated from a summary of the number of raids upon specific targets. From the beginning of September until Wednesday morning the period during which the brunt of the German attacks has fallen ern London—the Royal Air Force has carried out 23 separate attacks on German occupied aerodromes in France, 18 on German aerodromes, 10 on aerodromes in Holland, and two on aerodromes in Belgium. Fifteen raids have been made on forests concealing military objectives. Great tracts of the Black Forest have been set ablaze and equal success has been achieved in the Thuringerwald, the Ober Hartz and forests near Berlin.

Thirty-five attacks have been made on the German railway system, including the large Potsdam station at Berlin, and considerable damage has been caused in marshalling yards, sidings and to tracks. There have been 29 raids on German and German-occupied docks and shipyards, where big fires and explosions have been caused.

Twelve raids have been made on barge concentrations, five on canal and river systems, 14 raids on munition works (among which was Krupps), eight on aircraft works, including the motor factory at Munich, 16 on oil refineries, nine on fire stations (the West Charlottenburg station, near Berlin, was bombed for two successive nights), seven on gun emplacements on the French coast. 11 on shipping, and three on Italian objectives, including the aero engine works at Turin, and many other varied military objectives, such as gasworks, blast furnaces and light installations. Curfew in Berlin

One effect of British raids on Berlin has been the imposition of a curfew from 11 o’clock at night. Cafes and all places of amusement close down an hour earlier.

FRENCH GOVERNMENT

MAY BE DRIVEN FROM OFFICE AXIS DEMANDS REJECTED (United Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 13 From diplomatic circles in the United States it is learned that the Vichy Government has rejected certain demands by Italy and Germany, and its future is uncertain. Italy is reported to have demanded the demobilisation of all French forces in the North African colonies. Germany is said to have demanded the surrender of half the livestock in unoccupied France. A New York report states that the Vichy Government may be forced out of office and German troops may occupy the remainder of France. General Weygand has postponed his visit to Northern Africa.

RUSSIA AND DANUBE

NOTICE TO GERMANY TAKE PART IN DISCUSSIONS (United Press Asn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright LONDON, Sept. 13

Russia has informed Germany that since the Soviet is a State bordering on the Danube she must take part in any discussions relating to the Danube.