NEW RECORDS SET

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21112, 4 June 1943, Page 3

NEW RECORDS SET

BOMBING_OF AXIS OPERATIONS IN MAY INEFFECTIVE REPRISALS (By Telegraph—Press Assn.— Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) (11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, June 3. The elimination of the Axis forces from North Africa, leading to the opening of a sustained and strategic bombing of the enemy in Europe from the south as well as the west, in addition to that coming' from Russia in the east, is the subject of the opening comment of the Air Ministry’s review of operations in May. The month was outstanding in that the Mohne and Eder dams were breached, the first discharge of 2000 tons of bombs on a German target was made, and a new record of intensive bombing was set up. In seven nights from May 23 to 29 over 10.000 tons of bombs were dropped in the Ruhr area. The total dropped on Germany in the last three months was brought to 30,000 tons and led to propagandists in Germany starting arguments in favour of a bombing truce, with parallel threats of reprisals. . Three other features of aerial activity are also noted —the German losses on tip-and-run raids, although there was no deep penetration by these raiders, the success agains, U-boats, and the sustained effort by intruders and fighter-bombers over occupied territory. Berlin was attacked on six nights by small forces and the day bombing of German targets increased, one being made inside Germany and 16 in occupied territory.