BATTLE OVER SYLT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 January 1940, Page 5

BATTLE OVER SYLT

HOURS OF CANNONADING AND “DOO-FIGHTING” HINDENBURG CAUSEWAY BOMBED. SOME DAMAGE TO DANISH PROPERTY. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, January 10. It is believed that 50 British and German planes participated in the engagement over the Sylt air base. R.A.F. security patrols in the Heligoland Bight dropped bombs as early as 1 a.m. The major battle began oyer Sylt at 6 a.m.. when anti-aircraft guns cannonaded for two hours. The battle was resumed at 9 a.m. when the German fighters went up. and guns roared continuously till 12.30 p.m. A new outburst, intermingled with bomb explosions at 2.30 p.m., continued till 4 p.m.

The objective of the raid included the Hindenburg causeway, on which is a strategic road and railway for the transport of supplies to the air base. Three bombs landed on or neat 1 the causeway.

The German radio announced that German planes encountered nine British bombers at 1 p.m. and shot down three. There were no German casualties, Berlin declares, but Denmark reports that two bullet-riddled German planes made forced landings in Denmark.

One of the pilots stated that he was dog-fighting all the afternoon. It is reported from Denmark (states a British Official Wireless message) that damage was done to Danish .property adjoining the frontier in the early hours of the morning. Should it be established that British aircraft were responsible for the damage, full restitution will be made to the Danish Government.

Later reports reveal that snow on Romo Island obliterated the distinguishing marks showing the island to be Danish. The damage consisted of hundreds of windows being shattered andthe electric supply cut off.

The German news agency admits that the German planes in the battle were of the newest type, a radio message states They were fighters and were much faster than the British bombers and are known as destroyer planes. The advantage should have been with the Germans, but the fact that at least two were disposed of by the slower British bombers indicates the skill and courage of the British pilots.

Daventry reports that the pilots of the British planes which raided Sylt state that they were unable to ascertain the extent of the damage on account of darkness. Danish reports state that the Hindenberg Dam was seriously damaged but this is not yet confirmed in London.

REPORTS DENIED ' AIR MINISTRY STATEMENT. ENGAGEMENT FAR OUT AT SEA. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) RUGBY, January 11. The Air Ministry has announced. “In reference to numerous reports of intense air activity and bombing in the region of Sylt during yesterday, no R.A.F. aircraft were in this area after approximately 1 o’clock on Wednesday morning. As already announced there was an air engagement far out to sea, but the Air Ministry has no knowledge of any events which would account for the reports referred to. UNSOLVED MYSTERY EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS OF BATTLE. IN SPITE OF AIR MINISTRY DENIAL. (Received This Day, 11.10 a.m.) LONDON, January 11. The mystery of the Sylt air raids deepens as Danish reports confirm that a large number of planes were there to 4 p.m., despite the AitMinistry’s statement that no British planes were in the area after 1 a.m.

Reports that the. Royal Air Force continuously raided Sylt and engaged in a large scale battle with Messerschmitts during daylight hours are without foundation, according to the Air Ministry, but all the morning papers give prominence to accounts of the raids and further eyewitness stories alleging that a big battle occurred. A Danish policeman says he watched the battle, in which possibly a hundred planes were engaged. An eyewitness on the Danish-Ger-man border declared that the Hindenburg Causeway was completely cut at one point. Unofficial comment in London suggests that the damage may be due "to other causes.” Repairs to thecauseway permitted a resumption of rail traffic in the afternoon.

Further heavy aircraft activity over Sylt was reported last night.