ENEMY ADMISSION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24422, 7 October 1940, Page 8

ENEMY ADMISSION

AIRCRAFT LOSSES R.A.F. COMPUTATION SYSTEM DEFINITE SUCCESSES ONLY (British Official Wireless) (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) RUGBY, Oct. 5. (Received Oct. 6, at 7.10 p.m.) During yesterday’s daylight and night operation" the enemy admitted the loss of five aircraft, says an Air Ministry bulletin. In tl is period the Bi'itish claimed three enemy aircraft destroyed Two others were reported as “ probables,” although not claimed, and will not be claimed as definitely destroyed. The enemy’s admission shows that at least two more aircraft were in fact brought down. This goes to prove that a large number of enemy aircraft has been so ba,dly damaged by British fighters and anti-aircraft guns that they do not return to their bases. “ Probable ” Losses Following almost every engagement over this country enemy aircraft are reported as “ probables ” which are not definitely claimed or announced as enemy losses. When these numbers are small the enemy is apt to make a fairly genuine admission. If he did the same on the occasions when a large number of his aircraft is destroyed the results might be very startling. For example, on one occasion when 185 enemy aircraft were desti-oyed, the reports showed 42 “ probables ” and 75 damaged in addition. On another date when 89 aircraft were destroyed, there were 34 “ probables ” and 53 damaged. Enemy Figures Valueless

Announcing an astronomical figure for the total of British losses since the beginning of the raids on Britain, German and Rome broadcasts give the same figures, but render their value useless by the fact that Rome reveals the German News Agency as the source of its information, while the German News Agency cites the Italian newspaper Popolo di Roma as its own source. An earlier message stated a German communique yesterday again admitted the loss of more planes than the British —namely, four to three. It again described the air raids on Britain as retaliatory, and claimed that heavy damage was done to military targets in London and its precincts. It said that only one industrial works in Germany was bombed by the R.A.F., with no material damage.