SEVERE ATTACK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 September 1940, Page 5

SEVERE ATTACK

MADE BY FRENCH PLANES ON GIBRALTAR NUMBER OF CIVILIAN ) CASUALTIES. 1 ? AT LEAST THREE MACHINES 5 SHOT DOWN. i . LONDON. September 25. , It is reported from Gibraltar that , 100 French planes from Morocco yesterday afternoon subjected the Rock to the most severe attack since the outbreak of the war. They dropped about 300 bombs of various sizes, many falling in the sea or on barren areas. Buildings, roads and old defences were considerably damaged. Little damage was done to military works or personnel. A small ship was hit and sunk. There were a number of civilian casualties, some fatal. Anti-aircraft guns shot down three, possibly five planes. A number of bombs fell in La Linea. It is reported from La Linea that the planes circled the rock in waves of ten for 125 minutes. Smoke enveloped the arsenal, says the report, and flames leapt from the naval base,, many fires being observed. The Havas agency reports that 100 tons of bombs were di’opped on Gibraltar yesterday. Officials in Vichy declared that the Renown was hit during the raid and was compelled to leave port. A French naval dispatch to Vichy claims that one of two British battleships shelling Dakar was torpedoed and was listing badly. A French cruiser scored direct hits on other warships. / REPORT DENIED RENOWN NOT DAMAGED. (Received This Day, 9 a.m.) LONDON. September 26. There is no truth in the report that H.M.S. Renown was damaged in the French bombing attack on Gibraltar.