BIG RAID ON BERLIN

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21217, 13 September 1940, Page 5

BIG RAID ON BERLIN

DAMAGE TO RAILWAY STATIONS REPEATED SALVOES STRIKE GOODS YARD ITALIAN RADIO REPORTS 1753 CASUALTIES (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 13, 12.20 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 12 It is officially stated that bombers again carried out a big raid on Berlin last night, straddling the Potsdam station with heavy-calibre bombs, followed by incendiaries. Bombers hit buildings and tracks at Anhalter, near Potsdam, in a series of runs over the target. Repeated salvoes struck the goods yards at both stations. Bombs fell on the Tiergarten and the Templehof aerodrome. One of our planes was damaged, but all returned. Our planes machine-gunned motor torpedo boats from low altitudes.

The Rome radio stated that the Royal Air Force raid on Berlin on the night of September 10 resulted in 1753 casualties.

FIRE AT FACTORY

INCENDIARIES DROPPED ADMISSION BY NAZIS (United Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 12 The Royal Air Force bombed Berlin again last night for an hour and 32 minutes. Many incendiary bombs were dropped. The German wireless admits that a fire was caused at one factory. Some bombs fell in the Tiergarten, the “Hyde Park” of Berlin, and others fell in the northern part of the city. The British machines arrived over the capital soon after 11.30 last night and three minutes before midnight the first attack was launched. High explosive and incendiary 'bombs were dropped on the yards of the large Potsdam railway station, which was heavily attacked the previous night. One raider at 12.5, escaping the searchlight beams and the antiaircraft batteries, went into attack the Anhalter station, which is near the Potsdam station. In a series of runs over the target bombs were launched on the station building and tracks. An official London communique says an anti-aircraft battery in the Tiergarten was also bombed. Other aircraft attacked the Templehof aerodrome, one of Berlin’s main airports. One of the British machines was struck during the raid by a shell fragment, which just missed the oil tank. All the raiding bombers returned to their base. The Germans admit that British raiders were over the centre of the capital, and state that business premises were set on fire. Other German Towns Attacked The official German news agency says that the British apparently are not content with attacking Berlin, because two towns in the north-west of Germany were raided last night in the manner in which Berlin hitherto has been raided. A large number of bombs were dropped in the residential and business quarters, says the statement. They inflicted slight damage, although they caused a number of deaths of civilians and serious injuries. A timber yard was set on fire and a number of workmen’s dwellings were destroyed.

BRITISH RAIDS

LIBYA AND ABYSSINIA ITALIAN PLANES DESTROYED DAMAGE TO HARBOUR WORKS (United Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 13, 11 a.m.) CAIRO, Sept. 12 A Royal Air Force communique states: Our bombers yesterday launched a' series of raids against Libya, starting four fires at Amseat and bombing a landing-ground at Derna, bombs falling among aircraft. Two large fires broke out on the harbour and jetty at Derna. Several fires were started at Bardia. The enemy tried to bomb Mersa Matruh and suffered a high proportion of losses. Four Savoias were destroyed. The South African Air Force bombed Sciasciamanna, in Central Abyssinia, and destroyed one plane and damaged four. A headquarters communique states: Khartoum was bombed yesterday. There were no casualties and no damage. All is quiet in Kenya.

GIFT FROM ACTOR

PURCHASE OF AIRCRAFT (United Press Atm.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 11 Among the subscriptions for the purchase of aircraft acknowledged by Lord Beaverbrook today was £IOO from Mr Conrad Veidt, the film actor.

THE GERMAN VERSION

In addition to Berlin, Hamburg and Bremen suffered damage.

WAR INDUSTRIES

ACTIVITIES IN CANADA BIG CAPITAL EXPENDITURE (United Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) OTTAWA, Sept. 11 The Minister of Munitions, Mr C. D. Howe, said that Canadian war industries had been augmented by a capital expenditure of more than 200,000,000 dollars. They were entering a period in which, instead of building, they were producing. The total capital expenditure on plant and equipment in Canada, by England and Canada jointly, was as ioliows:— Explosives and chemicals, 58,400,000 dollars. Armament, 67,000,000 dollars. Ammunition, 19,000,000 dollars. Shells, cartridge cases and fuses, 11,400,000 dollars. Automobile equipment, including tanks, 4,800,000 dollars. Base metals and aircraft, 62,000,000 dollars. British purchases in Canada since the outbreak of the war, said the Minister, were valued at 203,000,000 dollars, exclusive of lumber and foodstuffs. Canadian war purchases totalled 135,000,000 dollars, exclusive of inant and extensions. Resistance to Barbarism The Prime Minister, Mr Mackenzie King, has cabled to Mr Churchill:— “ The men, women and children of Britain may rely upon Canada redoubling her efforts to give all support in her power to their inspiring resistance to the barbarous and inhuman slaughter they are called on to endure.”

THE CHiNA STATION

NEW COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF .Unite l Press Asi, i:vc. Tel. Cupyrlftit) (Received Sept. 33. 11 a.m.) SING * 12 It is officially arm unccc u. , .-- Admiral Sir U* Arty L. . "...a taken over as LVmn. ci tiie China Station, relieving Acmiral Sir Percy Noble.

DAMAGE IN BERLIN “RETALIATION” ON LONDON ' BRITISH SHIPS DAMAGED (United Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 13, 10.45 a.m.) BERLIN, Sept. 12 A communique states: British planes last night dropped many bombs on north German cities, including Hamburg, Bremen and Berlin. Numerous fires were started in residential districts and workmen’s quarters. Fourteen people were killed and 41 injured. Effective anti-aircraft fire and good air raid precaution work prevented greater damage. The British planes flew over Berlin at a great height. Incendiary bombs set fire to a factory in northwest Berlin, additional to a number of houses and business premises. There were several small craters in the Tiergarten. Our bombers continued their retaliatory attacks against London, and set fire to docks and harbour installations, striking gas and electricity stations, a powder factory, and an armaments factory. Another target was great fuel oil stores at Port Victoria. We also bombed the harbours at Liverpool and other towns on the south and west coasts of England. A bomber squadron set fire to a destroyer and four merchantmen in the Thames Estuary and hit two other ships. Bitter air combats developed over England. The enemy lost 80 planes yesterday, including twelve over the continent. Twenty of ours are missing. Two U-boats sank a total of 47,000 tons of shipping. The Berlin radio announced that British bombers attacked worldfamous monuments and symbols of modern Germany in other cities.