TERRIFIC BOMBING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 163, 10 June 1940, Page 2

TERRIFIC BOMBING.

ALLIED AIR FORCES. LONDON, June 8. It is officially stated that Royal Air Force ’planes roving the Somme battlefront dropped more than 800 high-explosive and incendiary bombs in thre.e minutes on a vast German encampment at Arraines, between the Rivers Somme and Bresle., Three hours earlier bombers attacked railways, roads,' and mechanised columns in th© Arraines area. Others repeatedly bombed the area between Le Preport and Amiens; Many direct hits were registered in the centre of Vismes, and roads were blocked .near Minnay. The bombers encountered considerable fighter opposition. One pilot reported fires extending 50 miles behind the German army. The French Air Ministry reports that French ’planes dropped over 100 tons of bombs on German tanks last night and a further 100 to-day. French bombers destroyed bridges over the Somme last night and put motorised units and supply, columns into disorder. Fighters annihilated marching formations with bombs. To-night’s French communique states: “Our Air Force has been intensely active, vigorously harassing the enemy, whose, armoured units were again attacked by cannon. Tanks on new ground have., been bombed, * and road convdys hrfc and dispersed. More than 150 machines,;, protected by British and French fighters, dropped an enormous tonnage of bombs on columns and enemy concentrations in the early afternoon.” *' BOMBS ON BERLIN. The. French Admiralty states: “A squadron of French naval bombers raided factories in the suburbs of Berlin last night. . All- returned.”. Heavy bomber formations of the Royal Air Force attacked military objectives in North-West Germany without loss. .• i The German High Comand states: “Enemy night raids against our home territory caused only unimportant damage. Ten civilians were . killed in the residential quarter of one town. The enemy’s total air losses yesterday were 71 machines. Five of ours are missing.’’. i .j ' Two Swiss and.two :G<mman'^’planes

were brought down during fights over Switzerland. The two Swiss pilots were killed.; 1 , \ ; ' &<This is the first time Berlin has been bombed. It was not attacked in last