FIERCE CONFLICT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 October 1940, Page 6

FIERCE CONFLICT

AIR AND ARTILLERY ACTION IN CHANNEL & STRAITS OF DOVER SHIPPING CONVOYS SHELLED. BRITISH PLANES ATTACK ENEMY HEAVY GUNS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON. October 25. Both the British and French eoasts shook with the noise of heavy and light gunfire, bombs and shells churned up the sea and smoke darkened the sky in a tierce artillery and aerial action in the Straits of Dover area late this afternoon. The fighting broke out again at night. British guns on • the Kent coast opened up the proceedings by shelling a small German convoy of three light craft, escorted by two seaplanes. The first salvoes of shells sent up great columns of water near the ships. The seaplanes then swung into action. They skimmed low over the water and laid a thick smokescreen. British guns then fired on the enemy seaplanes, shells bursting in midair with terrific flashes, near the planes. The shelling continued for half an hour, but the smokescreen prevented watchers from seeing whether tjie ships were hit. Then a German gun at Cap Gris Nez fired on a British motor torpedoboat. At dusk British heavy guns again went into action for a brief period across the straits whei the Germans shelled a British convoy escorted by destroyers. Long-range guns at Calais answered with several salvoes. Thus began another aspect of the terrific series of land, sea and air battles. " When the Germans, Linder the cover of darkness, opened fire on the British convoy the R.A.F., which at that moment was bombing Calais, immediately transferred operations to Cap Gris Nez, where the enemy guns were belching out fife. The fotirth salvo had scarcely fallen when R.A.F. planes swooped down plastering bombs on the emplacements. Sheets of flames were visible from England, whereupon the German anti-aircraft guns unloosed all they had in a furious barrage. Meantime, enemy bombers had launched a mass attack on the British convoy and its escorts, which in turn unleashed all their anti-aircraft guns, pom-poms and Lewis guns, thereby I adding to the racket at sea. The Germans, after dropping 30 bombs without scoring a hit, made off and the convoy proceeded. At times many miles-of the French coast appeared to be engulfed in great gusts of orange flame. EMPRESS OF BRITAIN NAZIS CLAIM SUCCESSFUL ATTACK. LINER ALLEGEDLY SEEN SINKING. BERLIN, October 26. The Berlin news agency reported that German planes, operating in 'the “blockade area” north of Ireland, on Saturday morning, heavily hit the Empress of Britain, which was seen sinking. The crew took to the boats. A communique states: “During the entire day Field Marshal Kesseiring’s light bombers attacked London and important targets in south-eastern England. Numerous hits were scored on permanent ways and public utilities eastward of Battersea Park and in other quarters of London. “Two convoys were attacked from the air off the east coast of England. The attack scattered merchantmen and directly hit a naval vessel. “Heavy bombers in successive waves attacked London, Liverpool, Birmingham, harbours of the British west and south coasts, and aerodromes in the Midlands.”