Blows by R.A.F.

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 85, 7 October 1940, Page 7

Blows by R.A.F.

SMASHING OF INDUSTRIES

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) (Received October" 7. 12.20 p.m.)

LONDON. October G

How the Royal Air Force is smashing* Germany's industries and her war machine nightly while the Germans are bombing London's houses and shops is shown on a huge map issued by the Ministry of Information. The map shows the vast web of destruction woven by the British bombers, which have struck at over 200 military targets, while over 700 blows have been struck against Germany herself.

Beside each name of a bombed target is the number of times it has been attacked. For instance, Berlin has been attacked 15 times, "Wilhelmshaven 20 times, and Frankfurt 12 times. A map of the Ruhr which is inset shows that every important town has been the victim of the R.A.F. Hamm has had over 60 raids and Essen 16.

The Ministry of Information, in accompanying notes stressing the significance of some of the targets, says: "We still bomb Germany's aluminium plants. The R.A.F. in the past two months has continuously attacked oil plants in western Germany, which normally, produce 40 per cent, of her total yearly production of 2£ million tons of oil. Now the R.A.F. is paying attention to central Germany, where over 50 per cent, of the oil production is carried on."

The Ministry repeats its belief that th"c R.A.F. bombings have already appreciably reduced Germany's aircraft production, while the damage to Hamburg and Bremen have prevented the loading and unloading of any ships there. The R.A.F. is also interfering with internal water transport and rail traffic, resulting in entire industries often being interrupted.

"The bombing of the nvasion ports not only removes the threat of a German landing," the Ministry states, "but handicaps the inland waterways and occupied territories, because barges have been brought from the Rhine and other German rivers which normally carry huge loads of her goods. The most telling proof of the damage done by the R.A.F. is found in the German Press, which is now forced to make cautious admissions in view of public opinion."