WIDE RAIDS

Taranaki Daily News, 24 September 1940, Page 7

WIDE RAIDS

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.

INVASION BASES TARGETS IN GERMANY NORWEGIAN OBJECTIVES

Rec. 1 a.m. London, Sept. 23. The Royal Air Force coritinued its pounding of German invasion bases along the French, Belgian an Dutch coasts during the night and at the same time attacked what was officially dfescribed as "an important target in Germany itself." A heavy rainstorm descended on the Straits of Dover during the night and a strong south-westerly wind kept seas comfortably high for those on this side of the Channel. Berlin had its first raid for a week, lasting for more than two hours. A Nazi spokesman said three British squadrons came over Germany from the direction of Holland. Two flew to attack objectives in northern and western Germany and the other flew towards Berlin. Flares, but no bombs, were dropped on Berlin. Later, however, the German official news agency admitted the enemy did not succeed in causing great damage to Berlin. Planes Heard Over Capital. Another German spokesman said the raiders were stopped at Oranienberg and Potsdam. but reports stated that planes were heard circling and crossing over the city and that anti-aircraft guns were firing furiously. The Berlin newspapers this morning say the raiders did not break through, but that they clashed with fighters. The Royal Air Force last night bombed Trondheim and the Nordland railway, says the correspondent of the British United Press at Stockholm. German anti-aircraft guns shot down one plane and were reported to have damaged several. The Norwegian authorities refused to disclose what damage was done to the railway. Large German reinforcements are reported to have been sent to northern Norway during the last few days and placed in every important town from Trondheim to Kirkenes. This probably explains the recently increased visits of the Royal Air Force to northern Norway. "The R.A.F. continued attacks on enemy invasion bases in Channel ports yesterday and last night," said an Air Ministry communique yesterday. "During the day aircraft from the bomber command attacked the port of Flushing and its defences and concentrations of barges and light draught vessels at Rotterdarn, Antwerp, 'Ostend and near Terneuzen in Holland, and in the Calais-St. Omer Canal.

Convoy Bombed. "Aircraft of the coastal command operated successfully against enemy ships at sea. A convoy of 12 merchant vessels was bombed near Boulogne. Patrolling aircraft attacked a supply ship of . large tonnage south of Borkum and incendiary bombs were seen to strike the vessel. | When smaller ships were attacked near the Dutch Island of Ameland a direct hit on one was followed by an explosion. "During the night from shortly after j dusk until nearly dawn the ports of Ostend, Dunkirk, Boulogne and Calais were heavily bombed by aircraft of the bomber command. Many bombs were seen to burst with good effect on ships, barges and docks, and the attacks were punctuated by fires and explosions from these operations. All our aircraft returned safely. Methodically hour after hour British bombers continued the work of destruction at Boulogne. A great fire on the quayside tended to dwarf many others in the harbour. Big explosions were observed at intervals and barges were 0aming throughout the night. There were also numerous barge fires at Dunkirk after repeated hits and explosions. A blazing warehouse illuminated Ostend harbour. but vast, columns of smoke from another fire north-east wnrds of Ihe main basin hindered the bomb

aimers. ... I Raiders dive-bombed Calais harbour . and set on fire the whole target nrea. Dircct hits on four large ships resulted in dense clouds of white vapour. Other salvos extinguished searchlights.