PROOF OF DAMAGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 May 1943, Page 3

PROOF OF DAMAGE

SUPPLIED IN PHOTOGRAPHS AIR MINISTRY REPORT. HEAVY DAMAGE TO RUHR WATER STORAGE (British Official Wireless.) (eceived This Day, 10.25 a.m.) RUGBY, May 17. An Air Ministry communique states: “In the early hours of this morning, a force of Lancaster bombers, led by Wing Commander G. P. Gibson, D. 5.0., D.F.C.,, attacked with mines the dams at Mohne and Sorpe reservoirs. These control two-thirds of the water storage capacity of the Ruhr Basin. Reconnaissance later established that the Mohne Dam had been breached over a length of 100 yards and a power station below swept away by the resulting floods. The Eder Dam, which controls the headwaters of the Weser and Fulda valleys, and operates several power stations, was also attacked and reported to have been breached. Photographs show that the river below the dam is in full flood. “The attacks were pressed home from a very low level, with great determination and coolness, in face of fierce resistance. Eight Lancasters are missing. “A photographic reconnaissance later this morning showed that several bridges have been washed away in the Upper Ruhr and that floods are rising in the Dortmund aiva. The Mohne joins the Ruhr above the industrial area near Soest ,in Westphalia. It is the biggest source of water supply for industrial and domestic purposes in the Ruhr. It also supplies many large factories with electricity. The Eder Dam is near Henfurth, two miles south of Waldeck, and is used to regulate , the water level of the River Weser. It is the largest reservoir’ in Germany. Both Soest and Henfurth are near the . Aipper reaches of the Ruhr.’ RAIDS ON LONDON MADE BY FIGHTER-BOMBERS. SOME FATALITIES & DAMAGE. LONDON, May 17. London was raided by German fight-er-bombers. which flew at a great height and then swooped in, dropping bombs in several districts. There were some fatalities. The first of two alerts in London was sounded shortly before midnight, and the second after midnight. The second one lasted for a considerable period, during which sustained gunfire was heard. Damage in one district included a block of flats shattered and several houses and a private hotel damaged. During the first alert a loud explosion was heard over a wide area. It was not the usual sound of an explod.' ing bomb or gunfire, but inquiries failed to establish the cause. Some casualties were caused by high-explosive bombs. Rescue workers tunnelling in the wreckage of three houses in one London district, found the body of a child, while nearby a battered birdcage contained a canary, which was still alive. At least four of the raiders were shot down. '