ATTACK ON BREST

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 December 1940, Page 5

ATTACK ON BREST

MADE BY BRITISH PLANES WEATHER RESTRICTS OPERATIONS ENEMY RAID ON SHEFFIELD. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE DONE. Bad weather prevents fullscale British air operations on Thursday night, but a small formation successfully bombed Brest,, a 8.8. C. broadcast states. German raids over Britain cost them two bombers on Thursday night. The main target was Sheffield and the enemy raid was heavy and sustained. Considerable damage was done in. commercial and shopping districts and in residential areas, but an Air Ministry report states that early particulars indicate that casualties were not unduly heavy. Scattered enemy raids elsewhere caused little damage and few casualties.

NIGHT ORDEAL BUILDINGS DESTROYED IN SHEFFIELD. TWO ENEMY BOMBERS DESTROYED. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, December 13. Last night’s enemy air attacks on Britain were directed principally at Sheffield and the surrounding area, the first occasion on which they have been singled out for comparatively heavy attack. An Air Ministry communique says that buildings were destroyed in. Sheffield and roads damaged and temporarily blocked. Reports are not yet complete, but so far do not indicate that casualties have been unduly heavy. Elsewhere attacks were not on a large scale. Two enemy bombers were destroyed. The R.A.F. did not pay its customary visit to Germany, last night. It is understood that the raids were cancelled because of bad weather. Night raiders were over London comparatively early last night. A full-throated barrage from the inner defences met single planes speeding over the capital. Several towns in the Midlands, also Liverpool, and northeast and north-west England and East Anglia were bombed for the second time yesterday. High-flying raiders bombed an east Midlands town. Waves of raiders attacked a Midlands town for several hours overnight. There was a fairly continuous hail of high-explosive and incendiary bombs, which caused extensive damage. A number of fires were overcome, the firemen battling amid exploding bombs. Informed circles in Berlin state that the Sheffield armament works was the principal target of the German bombers’ night attack.

KING IN BIRMINGHAM CHEERED BY UNDAUNTED CROWDS. LONDON, December 13. Less than 12 hours after the third heavy raid on the Birmingham area the King yesterday toured the city, picking his way between piles of rubble. Cheering crowds thronged at his heels. He talked with many people who were bombed out of their homes or buried for hours. At one point the King talked with a woman of 80 whose house was demolished, says a British Official Wireless message. “Were you in the house when it was bombed?” he asked. “No, I was in a shelter- with my husband, and I was not frightened,” she replied. “My husband is still in hospital with a fractured skull.”

NAZI CLAIMS BERLIN, December 13. The Luftwaffe ' yesterday directed attacks against London and the surrounding areas. Effective hits were observed northward of the Thames and Thamesmouth. Informed circles in Berlin later stated that since early on Thursday night strong bomber formations attacked Sheffield with bombs of very heavy calibre. Returning bombers from the first wave reported heavy and extensive fires in many places throughout Sheffield. It is assumed that further fires will occur, as it is revealed that the bombing .is by waves. For hours bombers starting from Belgium in continuous waves were not hampered by the unfavourable weather.

COASTAL COMMAND DOCKS AND SUPPLY SHIP BOMBED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) RUGBY, December 13. An Air Ministry communique states: “Yesterday evening a small formation of aircraft of the Coastal Command bombed the Brest docks. While on patrol off the Dutch coast, a Coastal Command aircraft attacked an enemy supply ship and scored a direct hit.”