GERMAN BOASTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 October 1940, Page 5

GERMAN BOASTS

AFTER NIGHT BOMBING OF LONDON ALLEGED “PARALYSIS OF SUPPLY SYSTEMS.” BUT COCKNEYS GO TO WORK AS USUAL. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 9 a.m.) LONDON, October 16. The German statement, with reaard to the number\of planes raiding London last night was probably an exaggeration, but hundreds of tons of high explosive and incendiary bombs hit the capital. It was a horrific night for those, still believing that the discomforts of the underground shelters are the greater of two terrors, who stayed above the surface. The raiders made whole districts their targets and consequently the majority of the bombs achieved little of direct military importance. i “The faces of the crews were radiant, as everyone had a grand experience,” says a Berlin news agency, describing the return of the Luftwaffe raiders from London. “The Luftwaffe gives no quarter,” says the agency, citing the examples of annihilated Warsaw, destroyed Rotterdam and the devastation of Dunkirk and added: “It is often asked how long will it be before London meets the same fate. The impression of fire in London last night was indescribable and supply systems will be paralysed for a long time to come.” That is what Berlin thinks. Londoners went to work this morning much the same as usual. The majority still had jobs to go to and tackled them with the same unshaken resolve. London is still London. VARIETY OF TARGETS BATTERED BY BRITISH BOMBERS IN GERMANY AND OCCUPIED TERRITORIES. ALL PLANES RETURN SAFELY. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.20 a.m.) RUGBY, October 16. Last night’s air attacks on Germany were directed, as usual, against a wide variety of objectives and an Air Ministry communique states: “The main strength of the R.A.F. bomber offensive was concentrated on the naval bases of Kiel and Hamburg, where large numbers of heavy-calibre bombs were dropped on shipping and wharves. “Other forces of bombers attacked oil plants at Gelsenkirchen, Madgeburg and Salzerbergen, while two depots in the neighbourhood of Kiel were also hit. Goods yards at Scherte, Krefeld, Hamm and Soest were attacked and railway junctions at Nordhausen and Halle damaged. “A number of industrial targets, munitions factories, aircraft factories and power stations were raided by other aircraft, which, owing to . bad weather, did not reach their primary objectives. “The offensive against the Channel ports and gun emplacements at Cape Griz Nez was continued. “All our aircraft returned safely.” LONDON FATALITIES IN TUESDAY NIGHT’S RAIDS LESS NUMEROUS THAN IN SEPTEMBER. LITTLE BOMBING YESTERDAY. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.3 am.) RUGBY, October 16. A communique states that reports so far received show that there has been hardly any enemy activity over Britain today. Bombs have been reported only in a coast town in Scotland and at one point in the West Country. No damage or casualties are reported. While full particulars are not available, it seems clear that despite widespread and quite wanton bombing of civilians in London last night, the number killed, though larger than in recent raids, is considerably less than in earlier raids in September. A Coastal. Command fightei’ shot down an enemy float-plane this morning. An Admiralty communique states that a naval bombardment of Dunkirk was carried out last night. Fires were seen to have been caused and it is considered that much damage resulted. BERLIN CHILDREN EVACUATION ON LARGE SCALE. BERLIN. October 16. The newspapers publish details of a plan to evacuate 75,000 children from the capital as a result of Royal Air Force raids. The first train load is already en route to Poland.