INDUSTRIAL AREAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 September 1940, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL AREAS

SELECTED AS THE MAIN TARGETS BERLIN PEOPLE PACKED INTO SHELTERS. NAZI OFFICIAL REPORTS DISCREDITED. LONDON, September 26. The Royal Air Force is intensifying its attacks on Berlin and each night Berliners spend more and more time in the shelters. Last night the German capital had its longest air raid, and the all-clear did not sound till 4 o’clock this morning, after five hours. The Air Ministry- states that strong forces attacked military objectives in the city. Reports indicate that the industrial suburbs to the north were the main targets. The raid started so early that Berliners were kept away from their homes. Some 1500 people were packed into one underground station. Two waves of raiders also passed over the centre of the city. Reports received in New York say that several houses were demolished in the north. The Germans, of course, claim that bombs were dropped at random. They say also that eight blocks of flats were demolished. German officials have been suppressing all details of these attacks on Berlin since Tuesday night. German people ,however, are apparently not deceived by this. A traveller on reaching the Swiss frontier said the people in North Germany are very bitter about the official accounts of the raids in the industrial areas, where they can see the damage for themselves. The Royal Air Force also struck again at other military objectives in Germany. The naval base at Kiel was bombed again last night, as also were the invasion bases. The French channel ports from Dunkirk to Boulogne were bombed early this morning. The whole French coast was lit up by searchlights and bursting bombs and shells. The English side of the Channel shook under the bombardment. CANADIAN AIRMEN GALLANT PART IN DEFENCE OF LONDON. HEAVY LOSSES INFLICTED ON ENEMY. RUGBY, September 25. The reputation of the Royal Canadian Air Force is further enhanced by details of its participation in today’s battles over England given by the Air Ministry news service, which says: “One of the German bombers, a Dornier 215, was attacked by two Hurricane pilots ot a R.C.A.F. squadron. When they came back to their base they found Air Marshal Bishop, V.C., the famous Canadian fighter pilot of the last war, and now Director of Recruiting in the R.C.A.F., waiting to meet them. The two Canadian pilots were slight disappointed: They could not say they had destroyed the enemy because they had not been able to see it drop into the sea; but a few minutes later a message came through from a coastguard station that the Dornier had been seen to plunge into the Channel. “Six times during the past fortnight Canadian pilots fighting with the R.A.F. have helped to save London from attack. Between them these Hurricane squadrons —the original ‘all , Canadian’ squadron of the R.A.F. form- : ed in England and a squadron of the ; R.C.A.F. formed in Canada, have already destroyed more than 100 of the ; enemy. Well as all the Canadians did ■ over Dunkirk, much of their fine fight- ;

ing has been ever the streets, clocks and houses of London. “The squadron which came into action in August has done all its fighting in home defence. In their last six fights the all-Canadians have now destroyed 55 of the enemy against a loss of only two of their own pilots. The squadron more newly arrived is proud that it camo to England as a complete unit with Canadian-built Hurricanes, a full supply of spares, and their own motor transport. Eighty-three of their ground staff had learnt their knowledge of fighter aircraft under the Empire training scheme. Like all Canadians, the squadron is proud to have fought for London.”