BOMBS AND EXPLOSIONS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21216, 12 September 1940, Page 8

BOMBS AND EXPLOSIONS

RELENTLESS BRITISH ATTACK FRENCH PORTS ATTACKED DOCKS AND SHIPS DAMAGED (Official Wireless) (Received Sept. 12. 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 11 The great onslaught which the Royal Air Force has been making against the German war machine was continued on Tuesday night with relentless precision and energy. Some of the heaviest attacks were made against barge concentrations, shipping and docks in the French Channel ports. The Calais dock bore the brunt of the attack. Barges and harbour stores and an equipment store were bombed. Salvoes and sticks of bombs were dropped over the Carnot Basin and were observed to burst among many barges which were packed together, and a large part of the dock area was left in flames, one fire alone enveloping at least 200 yards of waterfront. The guns were silenced and the searchlights extinguished around the harbour. One pilot spent an hour over the objective, dodging shells and weaving his way in and out of clouds. Biding his time the bomb-aimer let go the bombs and sticks were laid accurately across the docks. A clear gap in the clouds enabled another crew to drop bombs right along barges massed along the Carnot Basin. As the high explosives poured into the packed vessels which lined the whole side of the basin and extended three-quarters of the way across it, chunks of debris were flung into the air. Fires again broke out and explosions were going on as the aircraft left. The observer of one bomber saw a large merchant ship about a mile north of the Channel leading to the docks suddenly burst into flames and burn fiercely. Raids Lasted Hours The attack on Calais lasted three hours. Ostend harbour was bombed from 9 p.m. on Tuesday until nearly 5 a.m. on Wednesday. Repeatedly sticks of heavy bombs straddled barges lying in the ports. Ships were hit directly by a strong section of raiders which attacked the harbour just before midnight and between 3 and 4 o’clock in the morning. Heavy explosions in the dock area followed attacks by another section of bombers. Enemy ships in Boulogne harbour were also bombed. Other squadrons flew further north in a raid on Flushing. Many bombs were seen to fall on docks, merchant vessels and E-boats. Dieppe also was attacked. After bomb explosions two of six E-boats vanished and are believed to have been sunk. Meanwhile enemy gun emplacements at Cap Gris Nez were attacked again.