TRAIL OF DAMAGE

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21206, 31 August 1940, Page 8

TRAIL OF DAMAGE

BOMBS AND EXPLOSIONS RAIDS ON CONTINENT KRUPP WORKS DAMAGED (Omclal Wireless) (Received August 31, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, August 30 The pilot of a leading aircraft which attacked the Krupps works at Essen last night said after dropping his bombs: “There came four large explosions, followed by two smaller ones. A large red fire started immediately and two violent explosions followed.” Other sections of the raiding force continued the unremitting attack which the Royal Air Force has launched on Germany’s vital oil supplies. Extensive oil tanks near St. Nazaire, of which the enemy has been availing himself since the occupation of the French coast, were bombed heavily and were hit repeatedly, and many big explosions resulted. One of the pilots counted 15 separate fires.

Raiders made a series of attacks on Bottrop, which began soon after eleven o’clock and continued until 1.30 this morning. After the explosion of the bombs had ended many other explosions began and continued for some time. Fires, described by pilots as small but persistent, broke out and were still burning when other raiders arrived an hour and a-half later.

A pilot who bombed the Cologne oil works at 1.38 this morning plainly saw a fire after his attack. Another force bombed the Duisberg electric power station, which was set on fire, the flames shining through the darkness in spite of clouds for 25 miles. Heavy bombs fell in a stick across the works. Last night’s attack on Hamm goods yards was successful. One pilot saw the tangled wreckage of railway trucks and. metals from a siding hurled into the air after a salvo of heavy bombs had fallen. RED CROSS SHIPS RESCUE OF AIRMEN GERMAN DEMAND REFUSED FLAGRANT ABUSES ALLEGED (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received August 31, 3.15 p.m.) LONDON, August 30 It is officially stated that Britain has received, via Switzerland, notification of the German intention to employ 64 ships with the Red Cross marking for rescuing airmen from the sea. The Government expresses the opinion that the frequent use of German rescue boats in areas in which war operations are constantly in progress must inevitably assist the enemy military operations and gravely hamper the movements and actions of His Majesty’s forces.

The Government will not employ its own boats for rescuing airmen under the Red Cross, though they have been deliberately attacked while saving English and German airmen. The Government regards the German claim to invest the rescue-boats with Red Cross privileges as wholly inadmissable. It is pointed out that the Germans have repeatedly and flagrantly attacked duly-notified and speciallyconstructed British hospital ships under circumstances admitting of no possible mistake of identity. The Government has still received no reply from Germany to the protest lodged on July 12, through the United States Government, concerntag the actual sinking of British hospital ships, including the Maid of Kent. In view of Germany’s proven disregard for the Red Cross Convention Britain “would not be justified in admitting its pretensions in respect to vessels whose character and functions in any case are open to the gravest suspicion.” Accordingly His Majesty’s Government is unable to accept the German notifications. SHIP TORPEDOED SANK IN FIVE MINUTES SAFETY OF SURVIVORS (United Press assn.—Eicc. Tel. copyright) (Received August 31, 3.15 p.m.) LISBON, Aug. 30 Nineteen survivors from the livington Court landed from a lifeboat at Santa Maria. They stated that the ship was torpedoed in the Atlantic and sank in five minutes. A second lifeboat containing the captain and 20 members of the crew landed on another part of the Portuguese coast. BUSINESS SUBDUED

LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received August 31, 3.15 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 30 The stock market remained firm, but business was extremely subdued. Substantial institutional buying assisted gilt-edged stocks. Industrials were irregular. The British Air Ministry’s 44th casualty list contains the names of 28 killed in action 42 previously missing, now killed in action, 100 missing, 86 killed, 41 wounded on active service, which includes casualties resulting from enemy action while grounded, 14 previously missjug, now prisoners of war.