HEAVILY POUNDED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 August 1941, Page 6

HEAVILY POUNDED

GERMAN INDUSTRIAL AREAS AND OTHER ENEMY TARGETS. DIRECT HITS ON MERCHANT SHIP. LONDON. August 8. Stormy weather last night did not stop our continued air offensive against the enemy. Another terrific onslaught was made by the R.A.F. on. Essen, Dortmund and Hamm. At Essen, Krupps’ works were clearly seen in the moonlight and a number of fires were started. The planes dropped an exceptional number of the most powerful high explosive bombs. Miles away, the British pilots could see the flames continuing to spread. \ The railway yards at Hamm were heavily attacked and a number of fires were started in the main industrial areas. Important railway yards at Dortmund were also hit again and again and much damage was done to the industrial section of the city. Enemy shipping was also attacked during the night. Two direct hits were made on a two-funnelled merchant ship and another ship was damaged. The docks at Boulogne were attacked, besides enemy aerodromes. Four British bombers were lost. In yesterday’s daylight offensive seven enemy fighters were destroyed and many others damaged. Ten British fighters were lost. A Messerschmitt 110 was destroyed today off the East Coast. Small-scale attacks were made on this country last night, when some damage was caused in the north-east of Scotland and in East Anglia.

ATTACK ON BERLIN NOT MADE BY BRITISH PLANES. MYSTERY MEANTIME UNSOLVED. LONDON, August 8. The Germans announce that enemy planes penetrated the Berlin defences and dropped bombs. The enemy is not known. Rome says the planes were British, but in London it is officially stated that there was no R.A.F. raid on Berlin last night. At present the mystery remains unsolved. NAZI ASSERTION BOMBERS “UNDOUBTEDLY BRITISH.” (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON. August 8. A Berlin spokesman said the bombers ever Berlin last night were undoubtedly British. FACTS CLEARED UP RUSSIAN PLANES RAID BERLIN. ALL RETURN SAFELY TO BASES. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 1.15 p.m.) RUGBY. August 8. A Moscow radio message announced today that the Soviet Air Force carried out during Thursday night attacks on military targets in several districts of Berlin. Explosions and fires were observed. The Soviet planes all returned safely to their bases. BLAZING FACTORIES GLOW SEEN FROM FAR AWAY. BY RETURNING BRITISH BOMBERS (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.2 a.m.) RUGBY. August 8. Bomber crews returning from last night’s raids on Germany saw from far away a glow in the eastern sky which meant that the' destruction of German war industries was going on long after the bombers had left. At the Hamm, the Railway Yards, which are an eastern outlet from the Ruhr, were hit and there were huge fires among industrial buildings in the town. At Dortmund, an important railway yard was hit again and again. Elsewhere there was much damage to industrial buildings. In all, this was a successful attack on a city noted for its foundries, collieries and machine works. During the night some of the bombers found enemy shipping to attack in brilliant moonlight. One bomber got in two direct hits from about 4,000 feet cn a fairly large merchant ship, which blazed furiously. Another, hit and was seen to be listing. ENEMY LOSSES SEVEN PLANES DESTROYED ON THURSDAY. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.27 a.m.) RUGBY, August 8. The total of enemy aircraft destroyed in offensive operations yesterday was seven. Early this afternoon a Messerschmitt 110 was shot down by British fighters off the east coast.