ATTACKS ON CONTINENT

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21224, 21 September 1940, Page 9

ATTACKS ON CONTINENT

BLINDING RAINSTORMS WIDESPREAD DESTRUCTION (Official Wireless) (Received September 21, ll.jio a.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 20 All the British aircraft engaged in the night operations of Thursday and Friday against targets in enemy or enemy-occupied territory returned safely. The weather was most unfavourable. According to the Air Ministry news service the aqueducts which carry the Dortmund-Ems canal over the River Ems, north of Munster, one of the most vital links in Germany’s internal communications, were the principal objectives. These had been seriously damaged by the Royal Air Force last month, but repair gangs had since been working at high pressure to restore them to use. On Thursday night British bombers flew through blinding rainstorms and cloud that blanketed land and sea. Many aircraft were iced as they flew high to surmount the clouds. Luckily there came a sudden break in the clouds right over the target, and through this clear patch the pilots could easily see the aqueducts and make their runs accurately. Sticks of high explosves were dropped across both aqueducts and at least one burst was seen on the structure. Nearly an hour later another shallow dive attack was made, and again a stick of bombs crashed across both aqueducts, and an observer saw clouds of dust drifting away after the explosion. Just before 3 a.m. another raider, who also emerged into a welcome patch after flying among dense clouds nearly all the way from the base, made an attack. He could see both aqueducts clearly as the bombs were unloaded. Channel Ports Attacked The Channel ports were also shrouded in driving rain, which often turned to sleet, nevertheless another successful attack was made on Ostend and new fires were started, one at the north end of the main basin and another near two rows of warehouses which'caught fire by the time the raiders left. Other bombers attacked the new tidal harbour and despite the intense searchlight glare a later raider saw a large fire burning on the quayside. A pilot who attacked Flushing harbour saw heavy explosions in the harbour works and outer harbour and also across the Verbreed Canal. Fires were already burning when he arrived over the target. A pilot who flew over Flushing at 1500 feet dropping high explosives and incendiary bombs, said he saw five bursts among barges in the Southern and Verbreed Cannal. Violent Explosion They caused a series of minor explosions, followed by a violent explosion with green flames. Incendiary bombs started fires among barges extending over about 100 yards. The Dunkirk docks were also attacked from a low level, in spite of intense anti-aircraft fire. Other squadrons bombed railway yards at Mannheim and Erhang, goods yards at Neckarau, four miles south of Mannheim, and the main railway lines at Coblenz. Attacks were also made on a bridge over the Rhine near the Trier Canal, between Veere and Middleburg, in Holland, and on aerodromes at Munsterhansdorf and Berganopzoom.