HEAVY ATTACKS

Evening Star, Issue 23682, 16 September 1940, Page 3

HEAVY ATTACKS

CHANNEL PORTS BOMBED TREMENDOUS DESTRUCTION REPORTED FIERCEST BOMBARDMENT TO DATE SETBACK TO INVASION PLANS Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, September 14. French Channel ports were again heavily bombed throughout the night by the R.A.F. The attack began at dusk and continued until 5 a.m. . From the English coast flashes of the explosions of bombs, shells of anti-aircraft guns, tracer bullets, and flares could be seen along the whole coastline from Boulogne to north of Dunkirk. The thud of the explosions could be felt on the Kentish coast. Observers state it was the fiercest and most prolonged bombardment of the coast so far. The Vichy correspondent of the British United Press says it is reliably stated that the R.A.F., which is hammering German shipping concentrations and ports in the Channel and the North Sea, is now much more accurate than tho Luftwaffe. The British Fleet Air Force is reported to be keeping up a 24-hour attack on German shipping at ports in Norway, Holland, Belgium, and Franco. Tremendous destruction is reported, particularly at Dunkirk, Calais, and Boulogne, while several supply ships were set on fire at Le Havre. Great fires are reported on the French coast between Boulogne - and Dunkirk. British bombers also attacked convoys of small boats, pontoons, and barges moving down the Channel hugging the Belgian and French coasts. There is every indication that British air activity had doubled in intensty in the past 48 hours and is now enormously in excess of that of Germany. Writers in the Press and those in political and diplomatic circles who are watching for the decisive hour have not failed to note the considerable concentration in recent days _of the R.A.F.’s bombing raids against the enemy’s invasion bases and communications. given a moon approaching the full and high tides about dawn. The significance of these heavy R.A.F. attacks is felt to he considerable, hut while they are regarded as evidence of alertness on the British side against invasion, they are also seen to be reducing its likelihood.

INVASION BARGES DESTROYED

MANY BIG FIRES STARTED WIDESPREAD DAMAGE TO DOCKS (British Official Wireless.) (RUGBY, September 14. The Air ' Ministry communique states: “ Strong forces of bombers attacked enemy shipping in harbours, and docks on the French and Belgian coasts last night. Concentrations of barges were wrecked, and dock installations set on fire at Boulogne, Calais, Dunkirk, Ostend, and Antwerp. A daylight attack was also made on a convoy of tankers off the mole at Zeebrugge, in which one ship exploded after a direct hit. Two of our aircraft were lost. “Invasion bases on the Dutch, Belgian, and French coasts received the full force of last night’s operations by bomber squadrons of the (Royal Air Force. Throughout the night, from soon after 10 o’clock till shortly before dawn this morning, heavy attacks launched by separate striking forces wore made on barges and shipping concentrations. Barges were repeatedly hit by high-explosive and incendiary bombs, and widespread damage was caused to the docks and harbour installations. LARGE EXPLOSIONS. “ Barges in Boulogne Harbour basins were bombed in a series of low-level and shallow dive attacks. Hits were also scored on adjoining wharves and jetties, and several large explosions, accompanied by brilliant red flashes, were observed. Intense opposition was encountered from the Boulogne ground defences, and one Royal Air Force aircraft. which was held by at least six searchlights, was hit in several places by shells and splinters while making a low-level run over its target. OSTEND HEAVILY BOMBARDED. “ At Ostend, where the docks were subjected to an hour’s bombardment, barge concentrations in the basins were clearly seen in the bright moonlight. Sticks of heavy-calibre bombs fell across the rows of barges. In one dive attack made across the outer port a line of bombs scored direct hits on barges lying along the east and west sides of the port, and started two fires. Others from the same stick struck the dock railway station and exploded on the edge of the wharf, causing another fire. “ In an attack a few minutes later bombs straddled the harbour entrance from the west pier to a concentration of barges in the new outer harbour. Incendiary bombs, which were also dropped on the barges and along the quayside, started a line of fires on one side of the outer harbour. A great fire on the edge of one basin was seen more than an hour later to be still raging and growing. DUNKIRK SUFFERS. “The raid on Dunkirk began shortly after midnight, and was pressed home despite strong. opposition from the ground batteries and searchlight posts ranged round the harbour. Repeated hits wore obtained on the tidal basins, on the railway yard inside the docks, and on largo buildings on three sides of the commercial dock. Many heavy explosions were seen within the target area, and one of several fires which broke out could bo seen 30 miles out at sea. Searchlights which interfered

with observation were bombed and machine-gunned. “At Calais, wbicb was simultaneously attacked, barges were wrecked by direct hits From before midnight until the early hours of the morning a strong force of raiders attacked the docks and harbours at Antwerp, where many barges were sighted. Salvoes of high-explosive and incendiary bombs were dropped on these targets, as well as on the docks and quays. DUTCH AREA ATTACKED. “ During the previous afternoon Royal Air Force bomber forces successfully attacked a number of barges moored in the river at Ijusselmond, cast of Rotterdam, and a convoy of six or seven tankers, each about 2,000 tons, was sighted off the mole at Zeobruggo. Direct hits were scored on one vessel, which exploded in a mass of flames and a cloud of dense black smoke.”