RATIONING OIL

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 238, 5 July 1944, Page 5

RATIONING OIL

Signs In Germany’s War Machine EFFECT OF RAIDS (By Telegraph.—Press Assn— Copyright.) (Received July 4, 9 p.m.) LONDON, July 4. “The Allied bombing has reduced the production of German oil refineries by approximately 70 per cent, and of German aircraft by 66 per cent,’’.said General Arnold, Chief of the U.S. Army Air Forces, at a Press conference in Washington. “The Luftwaffe’s weakness was demonstrated when it ignored the great convoys crossing the English Channel ami the subsequent concentration of men and materials on the Normandy beach-heads, constituting some of the greatest targets in aviation history.” • General Arnold said that many bombing missions were now unopposed .by enemy fighters. Even critical installations were not defended by more than 100 fighters. The “New York Times” Washington correspondent says General Arnold indicated that there is at least a possibility that the Luftwaffe will never again tight effectively. He disclosed that the air force had received information that the Luftwaffe and also the rest oi the German mechanized forces were being rationed on oil. He promised that the Japanese Air Force would meet a fate similar to the Luftwaffe’s when the super-Fortresses were able to get at Japan’s aircraft production centres. He added * “rhe Japanese are now able to replace their plane losses, but this will be changed when long-range bombing comes into its own. Oil and Rail Targets. Strong forces of heavy bombers yesterday attacked oil installations, communication centres, and an aerodrome in the Budapest area, and railway yards at Brodvinkovci.

Fighter-bombers attacked enemy, communications in Yugoslavia and shipping in the Adriatic. In the Balkans and over Italy 57 enemy planes were destroyed. Fifteen of our heavy bombers and eight other planes are missing. Four of our heavy bombers are missing from night operations. Strong forces of American heavy bombbets now based in Italy, after shuttling from Russia, today attacked oil refineries, storage and transport facilities between Budapest and Ploesti, says Reuter’s correspondent at Allied headquarters in Italy. The bombers also raided targets near Bucharest.