GERMANY RAIDED

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21374, 19 March 1941, Page 6

GERMANY RAIDED

I SEVERAL TOWNS BOMBED EXPLOSIONS AND FIRES DOCKS AND INDUSTRIES (Official Wireless) (Received March 19, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, March 18 An Air Ministry communique regarding the bombing of Bremen, Wilhelmshaven and other places on Monday night states: Numerous explosions and fires were observed in the dock and industrial areas of the cities. At Rotterdam a large fire was started among petrol storage tanks. A single aircraft of the same command attacked Em den and Oldenburg. During these operations an enemy night fighter was shot down in flames. Off the Friesian Islands aircraft of the Coastal Command torpedoed and sank an enemy supply ship of 5000 tons. From all these operations none of our aircraft is missing. A German supply ship, the sinking of which bx Coastal Command aircraft was announced in an Air Ministry communique tonight, formed part of a convoy picked up by a reconnaissance bomber. The pilot attacked the largest vessel from close range and a torpedo struck the port beam. A heavy explosion from the ship was followed by flames, and debris was flung into the air. The vessel sank rapidly by the bows and was stern up when the bomber flew away after machinegunning all the other ships in the convoy. FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS DESTRUCTION AT BREMEN SHIPS AND DOCKS BOMBED DAMAGE TO FACTORIES (Omclal Wireless) (Received March 19, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, March 18 In a raid on Bremen last night the Royal Air Force again attacked the shipbuilding and dockyard centre. Within a minute of the explosion of some of the first bombs on the docks fires sprang up, and after a quarter of an hour the sky was red over the city. Heavy high explosives went off on the shipyards and along the quayside. Warehouses by the edge of the docks were blazing and a direct hit on a large factory set the whole building alight. Another large factory burned with blinding white flames, and all around there was a circle of continuous explosions. Toward 4.30 a.m. the ground mist began to get thicker and the pilot of one of the last aircraft over the city was having some difficulty in pin-pointing the exact position, when a sudden clearing revealed the target, and another stick of bombs was dropped on it. len minutes later a fierce explosion came from the direction of the works. On the way back from Bremen one aircraft came down to 50 feet and attacked a searchlight and gun pits. One of the searchlights went out with a sudden flash and the crews of the guns were seen running wildly in all directions. The defences at Bremen were very active and night flyers were up again. One of them, a Messerschmitt 110, after a brief combat was shot down in flames and exploded when it reached the ground. The dock yards at Wilhelmshaven were also attacked, and here too there were fierce and extensive fires. At Rotterdam bombs fell among oil tanks and set a number of them alight. SHIPPING LOSSES 98,832 TONS IN WEEK 'Official Witeles?) (Received March 19, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, March 18 The Admiralty announced that mercantile losses due to enemy action in the week ended at midnight on March 9 total 25 ships, of 98,832 tons. LABOUR IN BRITAIN REBELLION WITHIN PARTY VOTES AGAINST BILLS (United Press Assn.—Tel. Copyright) (Received March 19, 3.15 p.m.) LONDON, March 18 At a special meeting today the Parliamentary Labour Party discussed recent rebellions within the party. Labour members of the Government are disturbed at several developments. For instance, eighteen Labour members of Parliament opposed the official party policy and voted against the recent Means Test Bill. Labour also unexpectedly demanded a free vote on the War Appointments Bill, despite the fact that Labour leaders in the Government sponsored the Bill. The question discussed today was the future attitude of the party, which is an integral part of the Coalition Government but also is an entity. Messrs Aneurin Be van, A. Edwards and others associated with the recent rebellions attended. FIRE PUT OUT OUTBREAK ON LINER BREMEN amici press Asm.—Elnr. Tel. Copyrltflf (Received March 19. 3.15 p.m.) BERLIN, March 18 The news agency says the lire on the liner Bremen was extinguished after severe damage. An investigation into the cause is proceeding.