1940-05-16 — Page 7

THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 16, 1940.

Page

Magnificent Work By Royal Air Force HAVOC CREATED IN NAZI RANKS

Savage Reply By German Bombers

London, To-day.

SMARTING UNDER THE lightning British air at- tack on German troops thrusting into the north- east corner of France on Tuesday, when scores of British dive bombers "plastered" the German advance to bring it to an early standstill, the Ger- man air force made a savage reply yesterday, says Reuter's special correspondent with the R.A.F. in France.

Wave after wave of Nazi bombers swept over the area of British aerodromes, and the explosions

NAZIS ISSUE WARNING

TO GERMANY

London, To-day.

A warning against "exaggerat- ed hopes" following the successes announced in yesterday's German High Command communique, was given by the German official wireless last night.

"These

The announcer stated: successes are not yet decisive.

"However, with Holland's cap!- tulation the German army has come almost to the very gates of Britain, which can now be reach- ed by our warplanes In barely an

hour."-Reuter.

of salvoes of heavy bombs has been heard every GERMANS

hour or so since 2 o'clock in the morning.

Small groups of British fighters are and the French were enabled to launch still "kicking hard" despite the terri- a vigorous counter-attack,

fic strain on the handful of pilots flying them continuously since Last Friday.

Considerable Damage

bagged By 6.30 p.m. they had

Throughout the day extensive bomb- two Dorniers and eleven Messersching operations were also carried out midt 110 cannon-firing fighters on other parts of the battle front. Con- which were escorting the bombers.siderable damage was inflicted on the Anti-aircraft fire is stated to have enemy and enemy fighters were ac- accounted for four other enemy air-counted for. craft.

A German air gunner who baled out of a crashing Dornier Janded In a village where. 16 civilians, mostly women and children, been killed by bombs on Tuesday, R.A.F. guards had to shield -from the anger of the villagers.

Reuter.

had

him

During the night bombing raids were made in Germany on the enemy's

lines of communication.

Apart from the operation in the Sedan area, where success could not, have been achieved without casual- tles being sustained, the balance of aircraft losses romaine heavily in the Allled favour.

Reconnaissance patrols have flown along the Dutch`"coast "where" many

wrecked aircraft were seen on beaches and fields around The Hague.-Reu- ter.

To Meet Offensive

Low-Flying Attacks On Enemy Troops (SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")

London, To-day. An Air Ministry communi- que says R.A.F. bombers es- corted by fighters went into action in co-operation with the French forces in the great

In the morning it was seen that a battle which has developed | heavy offensive was developing at the near Sedan and the River crossings of the Meuse. Light bombers Meuse.

Repeated low-flying attacks on enemy troops and tank concentrations were made. These were highly suc- cessful and valuable assistance was given to the French army.

London, To-day. The Air Ministry announces: "Fur-¡ ther details have now been received of the Allied air attack in the Sedan area.

were sent out to attack pontoon bridges which the enemy had thrown across the river.

THREATEN BRUSSELS

Announcing

Berlin, To-day. that they no longer the consider Brussels an open city, German High Command alleges that military movements of all kinds have taken place through Brussels in the last few days.

It is added: ́ "If the Belgian Gov- ernment, wishes to.. spare Brussels the horrors of war, all military

BLENHEIM

BOMBERS WRECK CONVOY

London, To-day. Details of a devastating daylight attack by British bombers on

an enemy mechanised column several miles long, may now be given.

In the early stages of the German invasion of Belgium, large enemy con- centrations were reported to be mov- ing forward through the frontier town of Maastricht.

A strong force of Blenheim bom- bers was at once despatched with or- ders to find the enemy's leading co- lumn and delay its advance.

It located the column on the road leading from Maastricht towards Tongres.

The column, a moving mass of small tanks, armoured cars, and mo- tor transports, loaded with troops, stretched nearly five miles and progressing steadily at a speed of about 20 to 25 miles per hour.

was

The tanks were leading and the long line of vehicles, mostly bunched at the Maastricht end of the road, gra- dually thinned towards Tongres where they were some 20 yards apart.

Hopeless Confusion

Breaking up to aid approach, and

· movements as well as fortification | diving to within 1000 feet of the works must cease immediately. ground, the bomber formation went "If military objectives are found in into action. Brussels they will be attacked by the German air force."-Reuter.

One after the other, the Blenheims attacked in quick succession and from different directions.

Berlin, To-day.. The German High Command an- High explosive bombs of heavy nounces it no longer recognises Brus- calibre tore great craters in the road

sels as an open town.

siderable damage was inflicted on the enemy.

During the night bombing raids were

carried out in Germany on enemy lines of communication. Relays of fighter patrols, in some of which French and British pilots flew in company, were carried out from dawn till dusk.

Sections of our fighter aircraft en- gaged enemy formations at consider- able odds. In one instance six Hur- Several of these bridges were des- ricanes attacked 54 Messerschmidt 110s troyed and although subjected to in- and a number of bombers. In another tense A.A. fire all our aircraft return-three Hurricane and Morane fighters ed safely.

engaged nine Heinkels.

Two permanent bridges and two pontoons were destroyed, and at least Later in the day, as the situation 15 enemy aircraft brought down: Our had deteriorated, forces of British and losses are not considered excessive in French bombers launched a combined view of the results obtained.

attack on the crossings of the Meuse Several of the crews of R.A.F. air--and the main lines of the advancing craft brought down by the enemy reinforcement. have succeeded in returning to our lines on foot. Havas.

Meuse Bridges Destroyed

London, To-day.

The attack was opened 'by a large wave of French bombers with fighter escorts and followed up by still heavier British formations. Over 150 Allied aircraft took part in this operation in were destroyed, large tank and troop concentrations broken up and roads blocked.

De Air Ministry announces that in which four bridges

án Allied air attack in the Sedan area several pontoon bridges at crossings of the Meuse were destroyed.

Later over 150 Allled aircraft at- tacked the crossings and the main Iines of advancing reinforcements, and four bridges were destroyed, tank, and troopè concentrations broken up and roade blocked. The German advance In, the Sedan sector was halted by this operation

Advance Hafted

Effect of this operation was to halt the German advance. In the Sedan sector and enable the French to launch a vigorous counter-attack.

Throughout the day extensive bomb- Ing operations were also carried out on other parts of the battle front. Con-

surface, piling vehicles in hopeless confusion while large numbers of smaller bombs played havoc with the personnel.

The initial attack brought great success and by the time the last Blen- heim had swooped down through a hail of rifle and machine-gun fire to drop its bombs, on the convoys, a mass of damaged cars and overturned trans- ports, the whole column was stopped and the road effectively blocked.—Brl- tish Wireless.

WEATHER REPORT

The Royal Observatory reports that the anticyclone remains in the Pacific to the east of Japan; another of slight Reports from our fighter pilots show intensity has developed over North that enemy bombing formations were China. The depression is situated often broken up by the dash of our at- in the vicinity of Kiusiu, moving

tack.-British Wireless.

eastward.

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