HEAVY DAMAGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 February 1941, Page 5

HEAVY DAMAGE

DONE IN BRITISH RAIDS ON GERMANY i NEUTRAL SEAMAN’S TESTIMONY i MATERIAL & PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS. QUESTIONS THAT ARE BEING ASKED. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. January 30. An interesting sidelight on : lo' i'll octi vet iesb of the Brit isli air raids on Germany, .such as that carried out lasi night on Wilhelmshaven is thrown by an interview in the Stockholm newspaper “Arbetarei’' with a sailor who has paid regtiar visits to a German port. He said: "The English air raids have been really efficient during the last months. Previously the traces of bombing at Bremen were practically invisible and air raids were rare, but on my return there in December changed conditions were noticeable—bomb destruction was everywhere and the alerts were sounding regularly every night. ' ‘ The necessity to remain in port for one month discharging and loading proves the difficulties that were created by the bombing. At the same time the Germans have a wonderful capacity for speedily removing traces of the bombing. "During one attack a Finnish steamer was sunk and my boat was damaged, though it was able to go to Sweden for repairs. "Ihe population takes the bombing stoically, but the British air raids arc producing a psychological effect, as the people are commencing to feel a curious admiration for the English, who in spite of the deadly bombing still return with ever-increasing force. This’admiration is slowly changing toward doubt of the reliability’ of ’ the German bulletins. “Questions arc being asked how the English possibly can increase the intensity of their air raids if their own damage is as great as is asserted. "The English bombers show no respect for the German anti-aircraft defence. and it is jwssible to note their repeatedly returning to a certain posi-l tion before dropping bombs.”