BOMBERS MASTERING BERLIN

Waikato Times, Volume 193, Issue 22204, 25 November 1943, Page 4

BOMBERS MASTERING BERLIN

Any doubt whether British bombers can destroy Berlin’s fighting power has been removed by the Monday’s night assault, in which 2300 tons of bombs were dropped. Previously the weight of bombs that could be carried as far as Berlin was strictly limited but steadily expanded until this week-end, when more heavy machines were used. A greater weight of bombs has been rained on Berlin in the past year than London received in all the great “blitzes.” Although they had to fly much shorter distances the German air armadas failed to carry more than a fraction of the great loads of bombs now being delivered by the Royal Air Force. A few more such visits and Berlin will be in a plight as disastrous as that of Hamburg. Whether the weather has been against the German defences 9 in the past few raids is not clear, but in spite of the fact that larger numbers of bombers have been used than ever before the losses have been less heavy. Only 26 were lost in Monday’s greatest single raid, while on Thursday 32 bombers failed to return when a record number of machines was sent on the dual operation against Berlin and Ludwigshafen. Germany’s new weapons have not so far been effective in spite of the Nazi leaders’ promise that Germany would quickly take her revenge. Not only Berlin but all the other great war-manufacturing cities of Germany and her satellites face a winter of widespread destruction. The aerial offensive from Italy and other southern bases will soon join the attack from Britain, and day and night toll will be taken of the Axis war potential.