SUCCESSFUL FLIERS

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21368, 12 March 1941, Page 7

SUCCESSFUL FLIERS

RAIDS ON CONTINENT MANY DIRECT HITS FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS (Otnclal Wireless) (Received March 12, 11.0 a.m.) RUGBY, March 11 An Air Ministry communique states: Last night a small force of Bomber Command aircraft made a successful attack on the industrial centre of Cologne. The weather was good and the results were easy to observe. Bombs were seen to burst on the approaches to the Hohenzolleren bridge, where large fires were started. Many other fires were observed in the industrial centre and there were several explosions. German naval bases in occupied territory were attacked by other squadrons of the Bomber Command. Though the weather was less favourable on the coast of France, good results were observed at Boulogne. From these operations one of our planes is missing. Aircraft of the Coastal Command attacked the docks at Cherbourg and Brest. One of our planes is missing from these operations. Aircraft of the Fighter Command carried out offensive patrols over aerodromes in Northern France. One of our planes is missing from these patrols. Airmen Support Army A Royal Air Force Middle East communique states: A successful bombing attack was carried out on enemy camps and motor transport concentrations on the Galave-Buzi road yesterday by bomber aircraft, in support of the Greek land forces. Intense anti-aircraft fire was encountered in certain sectors, but the aircraft pressed home the attacks, even to the extent of machine-gun-ning motor transport troops moving along the road. In Italian East Africa bombers of the South African Air Force heavily raided Harrar on March 8. Several direct hits were registered on barracks and other larger military buildings. Further north workshops on the Decamere road near Teclesan and the railway near Habi Mantel were successfully attacked by bombers. Our aircraft continued to give very active support to the troops closing on Keren. Several enemy gun positions were bombed and machinegunned. A bridge on. the Keren-Asmara road was heavily bombed and a large petrol dump was destroyed. Our fighters machine-gunned and destroyed two enemy grounded bombers. From all these operations the aircraft returned safely. Malta and Port Said Attacked Enemy aircraft attacked Malta yesterday. There were no Royal Air Force casualties. Anti-aircraft fire damaged and probably destroyed several enemy fighters. Enemy aircraft approached Port Said a'nd Ismailia last night. Some bombs were dropped near Royal Air Force aerodromes but no damage was caused. GRAVE VIEW TAKEN FEELING IN AMERICA MINISTERS IN CONFERENCE (United Press Assn.—-Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, March II A grave view is taken in Washington of Admiral Darlan’s threat to protect food ships bound for France. Intervention by the United States to settle the dispute is being hinted at in the American capital. A Washington message says that the British Ambassador, Viscount Halifax, conferred with the Secretary of State, Mr Cordell Hull, on Admiral Darlan’s statement. He later said to the press that Britain had already made her attitude clear. Lord Halifax added: “Unoccupied France stands in a somewhat diftcrent position from the occupied countries, but her problems are the same.” Diplomatic sources said that Vichy had twice rejected British invitations to an economic conference to discuss food. The refusals were possibly made under German pressure. RUSHING TO CRISIS ADMIRAL DARLAN’S THREAT NO REQUEST TO BRITAIN (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, March 11 Opinion in London is that Germany is doing her best to start difficulties between Vichy and the British Government. Twenty-four hours before the announcement was made a German broadcaster in occupied France said that Admiral Darlan would take up a threatening attitude. “France seems to be rushing ahead to a new crisis which may bring her into conflict with Britain,” said an Australian journalist in London, Mr P. E. G. Bayley, in a broadcast. If Admiral Darlan carried out his threat, Mr Bayley added, it meant that he would use the French Fleet on the side of Germany, for that was the only way to break the blockade. He thought that Vichy had gone about things in the wrong way. for not one request had been officially addressed to Britain about means of overcoming the shortage of food in France. Vichy had been evasive and lacking in candour. A gift of £2nno from the East Lon- , don municipality, South Africa, aek- i nowledged by the British Minister of 1 Aircraft Production raises the city’s j gifts total to £13,000.