HEAVILY PUNISHED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 242, 10 September 1940, Page 7

HEAVILY PUNISHED

ENEMY OBJECTIVES.

HAMBURG HAMMERED.

(United Press Association —Copyright.)

(British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 10 a.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 9. Enemy ports, shipping, and barge concentrations were heavily attacked by the R.A.E. yesterday and last night, according to an Air Ministry communique, which states that in the course of routine reconnaissances yesterday our bombers attacked shipping in the ports of Dunkirk and Boulogne, and convoys in the North Sea.

Five of our aircraft are missing. Last night, in. spite of severe weather conditions over the Continental coastline, strong forces of bombers carried out raids against the enemy and enemy-occupied ports, barge concentrations, and shipping at 1 Hamburg, Bremen, Emden, Ostend, Calais and Boulogne. Widespread damage was done to oil tanks and ammunition stores, and many fires were started. Eight of our aircraft did not return.

Tlie bombers which made a concentrated attack «m Hamburg last night were over the docks and shipyards in relays for over three hours. Methodically pin-pointing their targets, they released salvo after salvo of heavy bombs, and hundreds of incendiaries.

Repeatedly sticks of heavy bombs were seen to be crashing across the docks and port installations. Many sticks of high-explosives straddled the Bloiuii and Voss yards, and fire 6 broke out in many parts of the wide target area. Although some died down again, others caught on and burned fiercely. The crew of one aircraft saw the Whavers railway station, on the north bank of the Elbe, burning, another fire at Hanshafen, and the glow of a third downstream near Altona. One oi the early raiders who dropped a stick across the docks saw two fires begin about 500 yards apart on the north bank close to the mouth of the Elbe tunnel. By 11 p.m. low cloud formed. A pilot arriving then said: “We cou d see little owing to clouds, haze, darkness, and heavy anti-aircraft fire, But we did see our bombs straddle the docks.” Bo mils could bo seen bursting among the dockside buildings while the fierce anti-aircraft barrage continued. More fires broke out, and they were burning fiercely as the bombers left. The glare in the sky over the docks could bo seen from 60 miles away by the raiders on their homeward journey. GERMAN COMMENT.

The German radio, describing the R.A.F. raid on Hamburg, says that between 60 and 70 bombs tell, destroying 80 dwelling houses. No military objectives were hit. The British also bombed residential districts at Kiel and Lueneberg. “The British Air Force is too weak and cowardly to meet the Germans in open battle, but restricts itself to defence and night attacks against Germany.”