MAJOR VICTORY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 May 1943, Page 4

MAJOR VICTORY

IN BATTLE OF RUHR WON BY LANCASTER CREWS. IN DESTRUCTION OF DAMS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.20 a.m.) RUGBY, May 17. The breach made by Lancasters in the great German dams in the Ruhr was mentioned by the Air Minister (Sir A. Sinclair)) at the Norwegian national day celebrations in London today. He said: “The operation was one of extraordinary difficulty and hazard. Eight Lancasters were lost, with their precious crews, but Wing Commander Gibson, who was in command of the aircraft engaged in the operation, pressed home the attack against strong defences and regardless of danger.” It was later learned that Wing Commander Gibson returned safely. A partial reconnaissance of the Ruhr Valley, and the district near the Eder Dam shows that floods caused by the Lancasters’ attacks on three dams are spreading fast. The waters are sweeping down the Ruhr Valley and railway and road bridges have been broken down and hydro-electric power stations destroyed or damaged. A railway marshalling yard is under water. Floods from the breach in the Eder Dam are already as great as the floods in the Ruhr Valley, but the country here is flatter, and the water is likely to spread over a greater area. Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris, Ccmmander-in-Chief cf the Bomber Command, sent a message to the officer in command cf the bomber group to which the Lancasters were attached. He said: “Please convey to all concerned my warmest congratulations on the brilliantly successful execution cf last night’s operations. To the air crews I would say that their thoroughness in training and their skill and determination in pressing home the attacks will forever be an inspiration to the R.A.F. in this memorable operation they won a major victory in the battle of the Ruhr, the effects of which will last until the Boche is swept away in a flood of final disaster.” DEVASTATING BLOW 336 MILLION TONS OF WATER. TURNED INTO HEART OF GERMAN WAR INDUSTRY. (Received This Day, 1.15 p.m.) LONDON, May 17. Millions of tons of water are swirling down the Ruhr valleys, sweeping away bridges and flooding vital areas, after the R.A.F’s. attack against the Mohne and Eder dams, which the “Daily Telegraph” describes as the most devastating blow of the war against German industry. The dams impounded 336 million tons of water, a great part of which is raging through one of the world's most densely industrialised areas, forming the heart of the German war machine. The effect of this shattering blow may be evident throughout the war, and indeed for years after it. The dams controlled rivers which normally are liable to flood wide areas and supplied water for great industrial and human concentrations which 'are likely to face an acute water shortage. They also controlled the level of a vital canal system, which may not be entirely disrupted. This canal system links West Germany, the Ruhr and North Germany with Berlin and the Baltic. The canals have relieved the railway and road transport systems of an enormous tonnage of heavy materials. The importance the Germans attached to the dams is shown by the extreme concentration of defences encountered. Guy Bettany, formerly Reuter’s correspondent in Berlin, says: “A famous German-Jewish medical specialist, exiled from Germany, pointed out to me that the Mohne and Eder dams are key factors in the German war potential and asked why they had not been bombed. I was so impressed that, several months ago, I passed on the information to the Air Ministry. I received a letter of thanks, saying that the suggestion would be carefully considered.” WHY MINES WERE USED. Reuter’s aeronautical writer says the mines were used against the massive concrete dams because they would be swirled against the sluice gates. Rarely has such a terrific explosive charge been dropped. The use of mines is evidence of the ingenuity of those who planned the attack. Every participant was selected for his ability and previous experience in mine dropping. “No more sensational feat has been accomplished in this or any other war than the destruction of Germany’s two biggest dams,” says the “Daily Mail,” in an editorial. The loss of eight Lancasters, with their crews, is a grievous one, but is small indeed compared with the expenditure of time, life and energy required to secure comparable results by any other means. This is the air war which the Germans held for so long as a threat over the world. It is a mighty weapon they Unleashed against undefended cities and which is now beating on their own heads.” The “Daily Express,” in a leader, says: “Germany has dispersed and leap-frogged some industries beyond present effective bombing range, but the Ruhr dams are targets she cannot move. So, too, are the Ruhr coal and 1 ore mines, the giant factories of Essen and the marshalling yards and wharves of Duisberg. These are targets Germany is now defending with 3,000 guns and close on a million trained men.” FIGHTERS a BOMBERS SUCCESSES IN OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE DONE AT CAEN. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.20 a.m.) RUGBY, May 17. Seven enemy fighters were destroyed by R.A.F. fighters during offensive operations today, in covering an attack on Caen airfield by Ventura bombers. The Spitfire wing of the Fighter Command, which at the weekend increased its sector's score to over a thousand enemy aircraft destroyed, added a further five to this total, losing only one aircraft in the engagement. In another operation, Spitfires de-

i stroyed one Focke Wulf 190. Squadron Leader Charles, a Canadian, who shared with another pilot in his sector the thousandth kill, got' one of the seven. Fighter pilots on their return said the bombers did considerable damage to Caen Airfield. Hits were seen on buildings and an aircraft nearby was burning. This afternoon, Beaufighters of the Coastal Command, escorted by fighters, attacked an enemy convoy north-bound off the Dutch coast. Tow merchant ships were hit with torpedoes and at least three of the escort vessels were left on fire. None of our aircraft are missing. PORTS & AERODROMES POUNDED BY AMERICANS. ENEMY INTERCEPTORS BEATEN OFF. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.23 a.m.) RUGBY, May 17. It is officially announced that largo formations of United States Eighth Air Force bombers made heavy attacks on targets in enemy-occupied territory in daylight today. The largest attacks were made against harbour installations at Lorient and the adjacent U-boat base at Keroman, while the port and docks of Bordeaux were bombed effectively. The weather was favourable and the crews report, very good bombing results on the respective targets. Enemy opposition varied. Some formations were met by large numbers of enemy fighters, while others had no encounters. R.A.F., Dominion and Allied fighters, in supporting operations, destroyed two enemy fighters without loss. United States Thunderbolls carried out an offensive sweep over Cherbourg Peninsula late in the afternoon. Four heavy bombers and ten medium bombers are missing. This afternoon, Typhoon bombers, with an escort of Typhoon fighters, made a successful attack on an enemy airfield at Coxt De Furnes, in Belgium. Bombs fell on runways and buildings. There was no enemy opposition apart from anti-aircraft fire | and all the aircraft returned safely.