ADMIRALTY REPORT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 October 1940, Page 5

ADMIRALTY REPORT

SUCCESSFUL BOMBARDMENT FIRE OF SHORE GUNS INEFFECTIVE. NO NAVAL OPPOSITION. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.50 a.m.) RUGBY, October 11. An Admiralty communique .states: “Heavy and light forces of the Royal Navy last night carried out a bombardment of the port of Cherbourg, where concentrations of enemy shipping were detected by air reconnaissance. The success of the bombardment was large due to the excellent co-operation of the R.A.F., who assisted in the reconnaissance and throughout the operation. “Our salvos were seen bursting effectively on the target and very large fires resulted. These were visible from our ships, on their way home, from a distance of 40 miles. Our ships met with no opposition, either during their approach or during the bombardment, but, while returning from bombarding the positions, our main forces came under fire from enemy shore batteries. No damage or casualties, however, were sustained. No naval opposition from the enemy was encountered, although it is known that the enemy had light naval forces at Cherbourg. QUICK RETORT BRITISH BOMBERS ATTACK LONG-RANGE GUNS. TERRIFIC PUNISHMENT INFLICTED. LONDON, October 10. Strong forces of R.A.F. bombers inflicted terrific punishment on the battery of four long-range guns beside Cape Gris Nez lighthouse after they had shelled the Dover area for half an hour at dusk. Cliff watchers saw a giant tongue of flame through the mist enshrouding the French shore. A shell burst with a terrific explosion. Several seconds later another followed, after which two guns fired simultaneously, then four together. After half-an-hour’s sporadic firing bombers roared across the coast through a south-westerly gale. Explosions were heard from Dover. Sheets of orange flame slashed the darkening sky as the raiders launched what appeared to be an avalanche of bombs on emplacements. Most brilliant illuminations were seen from the Kent coast.