3/2/kk - No. 1. ITALY - BOMBS ON HOSPITAL . Noto - This continues the story begun in M.o«I« Handout No* 50 of .yesterday (Tuesday). By Basil Gingell, Representing the Combined British Press I looked around on the scene of desolation as I stood with Lt. Colonel Howard Patterson. The dead had been out and in beside brought were lying a row the blood through riddled roof of hedge, lay spattered over spotless furnishing, tent which had been used as an operating theatre I could see a cloudless sky, and in the tent blood smeared tom had scattered reception was over papers that from the filing trays across the table. Ambulances and vehicles with punctured tyres and smashed windows while the lesser injured of the were being moved, patients ministered to the needs of the more seriously wounded. Immediately before the bombing the mail had arrived and one nurse had been sorting letters on her bed* One of her friends had popped in, collected a letter from her husband and son, then hurried back to the war. Two minutes later she lay seriously -wounded among the wrecked hospitali Leaving her sick bed, a nurse who had pneumonia took her part with the others in rendering aid and getting the hurt to another more badly hospital. These United States nurses, -who have been working so gallantly at Anzio, have felt the full effect of German bombing. Their hospital was raided’ in Sicily. left this hospital, As I fully ninety minutes after the bombing, a sergeant on the hospital staff came limping up to the Colonel. He had been wounded in the leg, but it his first opportunity of attention to his wound, was paying any own busy had he been 'with the so more seriously injured. That has been the spirit of this place after facing one of the enemy’s most inhuman acts of the Italian campaign. As I drove away over a bumpy track across the fields that had to this realised how brought me hospital j . more than ever isolated it and how hollow could be that the could have was any ecccuse bombing been aimed at anything but this plainly marked United States hospital. +4—I—H —Fd—F+++++++++++ MINISTRY OF INFORMATION NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN BRITISH 9/2/U- , - No. 2_. EVENING NEWSPAPERS Not to be broadcast before QQ3O Thursday, February 10. AMERICAN FIELD HOSPITAL DIVE-BOMBED Note - This continues the story begun in M.0.1. handout No. 53 of yesterday (Tuesday). From Norman Clark, Representing the Combined British press There can have been no possibility of the German pilots mistaking the con- air reconnaissance photographs of the centration of tents. The hospital, as all cncny must have shown dearly,was at least a mile from the nearest military it in the centre of the lines of which are objective, was an open field, straight bounded by woods and a road. I saw the fighter-bombers dive and bomb from a low in to call for caution in pulling height. There 'were no barrage balloons the area out of their swoops; no anti-aircraft guns near to cover the line they bombed along with a barrage. From our view-point we marvelled at the lowness of the machines as they scudded away over the trees to escape from the bridgehead. The enemy’s fighter- bombers had not flown at such tree-top height over us before. From a British Officer, Captain Alan Wrlcker, of Fitzwilliam House, The Green, Richmond, 'who 'was visiting a sick nurse in the tent hospital I heard this account of yet another violation the been bombed twice by the enemy of Red Cross. The hospital staff had before t Captain Whicker said, ”1 was sitting in the sick ward helping one of the nurses -who -was recovering from pneumonia to sort the hospital mail. A box of chocolates that had just come in a parcel -was being handed round. To one of the nurses who came into the tent from the receiving marquee I handed a batch of letters. There was one from her husband and another from her son. ’lhave got every letter I -wanted,’ she remarked. And she -went back to attending more wounded being brought into the line. Five minutes while the handing out hospital from the front later, of the mail was still going on, I heard a plane diving. We were in hospital, so nobody looked up or took cover. Then the bombs fell. I counted eight. I went outside -when the splinters had finished thrashing through the air tearing holes in the tent. In the receiving tent I found the nurse I had given the letters to. She had been killed. Another nurse was dead beside her and three others in the marquee were badly injured. Help came from everywhere. who had been after long to the accounts “Nurses, sleeping spells on duty listening of the who wanted to tell them of how and -wounded, they got their injuries, got up turned to dressed the wounds of those changed again - they injured by the bombs, blood-spattered blankets, and helped with emergency operations. The nurse I had been visiting insisted on getting up and dressing herself, although die still had a high fever, so as to lend a hand. /”! - 2 - "I haci never before in this 'war been incensed by anything so cold blooded, so brutal, as the bombing of this hospital, I went through tent after tent. The electric lighting plant v/as damaged, but the splinters made enough holes in every tent to let in the daylight for everything to be seen plainly. The tent tops and walls with shot. As who in the hospital, canvas were peppered one was I can testify that the German pilot ~ or rather pilots, since two planes came across together - cannot be absolved on the grounds that a mistake could have been made. Against the drab colouring of the tent roofs is a white circle in which is a broad Red Cross. And, if that was not enough, there were several bigger crosses on huge white sheets between the tent lines and in the centre of the I examined one of the camp. Red Cross the wrecked flags staked to the ground beside reception tent. Pacing out the white sheet background I strode fifteen steps, making it at least fifty feet square. The red band was six feet wide and crossed the sheet to the edges. Lieutenant Colonel Howard Patterson.- of Now York, was operating on a soldier with head injuries when one of the bombs fell outside the tent. Al though shrapnel came into the tent no one was injured in the theatre. ”A moment later” he told me ”a in with blood I able to clip the sergeant came squirting from his throat. was gash made when a splinter entering under his chin, went through his mouth and out of his cheek near the jawbone.” The receiving officer, Lieutenant Colonel Hubert Binkley, of Denver, Colorado, said ”six patients were killed in the bombing and a score had new injuries on top of their bo,ttic wounds..* ++++++ MINISTRY OF INFORMATION 9.»2.U / - No, 4 BRIDGEHEAD BATTLE By Basil G-ingcll, Representing the Combined British Press with the Fifth Array in Italy, February 7 by night Sharp stabs/by German forces, souetiraes backed by tanks, and usually preceeded by artillery, sneak raids by fighter-bombers, and irregular stonks by long-range guns make up what nay be regarded as a typical day of enemy activity on the Anzio sector, While these night efforts in the nature of have are more probes and been lacking in any success from the viewpoint, their bombing and their shelling, though enemy limited in scope, have had more than nuisance effect. Bombers, which are apparently operating from bases in Northern Italy, are fitted with long-range fuel,tanks which they jettison in the have their rocket target area, paid dearly for daring but using bombs of the described and anti- type by Churchill last September, more generally personnel fragmentation bombs the aircraft have smashed of the beautiful villas many that the houses of Fascist families in the The were playground that was Anzio. shelling, which is believed to be from the 210 millimeter gun, Has added its quota to the general devastation. Gaping holes appear in deserted villas and tropical trees, which beautified the streets and were featured by the publicity agents in their pre-war ’’Come to Anzio” campaign, lie topn and broken in the debris. Two a tragedies of the shslling have been the hitting of/cigarette dump and the destruction of 200,000 cigarettes and a month’s whiskey supply. . -j. +++++++++++++++++++++^+++ - MINISTRY OF INFORMATION •/2/1&- - Mo. 6 Air Ministry News Service Air Ministry Bulletin No», 12880 SIX-ENGtNHD FLYING BOAT SHOT DCWN A six-engined. German flying boat was shot down in flames last night over its base at Biscarosse, below Bordeaux in the Bay of Biscay, by an R.A.F. Mosquito fighter pilot on intruder patrol. The flying boat was a Blohm.and Voss 222 transport, a number of which type were destroyed while ferrying troops to Tunisia. where lake is used German air base for attacks Biscarossc, a as a on Allied shipping, is well over 400 miles from the nearest point of the English coast. The fighter pilot, of Southampton, said after his Sqdn./Ldr. H.E. Tappin, D.F.C., return that searchlights by the lake had engaged him before he found the flying boat and attacked. ’’The whole of his centre section burst into flames when I fired from JOO yards", he said, "The flying boat crashed on land at the corner of the lake and blew up". stated that S/Ldr. Tappin awarded the D.F. 0. in September 1942, when it was he had of Ho led squadron in "participated in a number hazardous operations". a the first sortie of the Dieppe combined operations. NOT TO BE PUBLISHED 9/2/44 No, 7 BEFORE IROADC. ST nT 10,30 p»m, B.S.T, BELGIAN GOVHJLZBNT PLANNING FOB PUNISH LENT . QF TRAITORS - .. M, Antoine Delfosse, Belgian Minister of Justice and Information, will broadcast the following address, from the Belgian National Station in London, on Wednesday, February 9, at 10,30 p.m. (8.5.T. One of the greatest sufferings of the honest man is occasioned by the apparent I of ' ‘ success injustice, The cynicism and arrogance of the -enemy’s collaborators is not the least depressing of the trials which the patriots' have had to bear under the German occupation. Amid the bewilderment which the skilful technique of the occupant succeeded in creating in 1940, * it looked as if all moral values were at an end. There were journalists who, in the name of Belgium herself, described as enemies of the Motherland those who ..proposed to continue the war against the invader; the constitutional institutions were held up to ridicule by some of our compatriots, and contrasted unfavourably with' the National-Socialist principles of the the conqueror; miserable flock of the chicken-hearted and the quitters applauded the implacable enemy of our people for his temporary victory. Must who to we add to those worshippers of success, and those eager careerists meant take of the general upheaval to raise themselves to the long list of the advantage power, of revengd themselves to the like cynics who - for money or for motives sold enemy, for handsome bonus? The hearts of honest were Judas, thirty pieces of silver plus a men for less filled with disgust at the sight of those creatures who, reasons qore or avowable, thus played the enemy’s grime. The after only consolation for patriots lay in their firn hope that sooner or later, the victory of the Allies, the collaborators would be punished, \ As the symptoms of the German defeat became more definite, so the thoughts of our people turned more and more to vengeance,'and, increased material sufferings fortified their'desire for merciless penalties, /It -2- It is striking to read the numerous underground newspapers, published by the pick of the patriots during the German occupation, and to observe how much space - '> is to articles dealing with the punishment of traitors. Moro given in them today \ I ' than half of their columns are devoted to denouncing and naming collaborators, fainthearted officials journalists; and have been Gestapo agents, or mercenary we glad also to find in them unreserved approval of the legislative measures adoptee 1 by the Belgian Government in December, 1942, to strengthen the penalties laid Libre for example, dovzn for those who serve the enemy’s policy. "La in 1945, its satisfaction that "a record of the activities of October, expressed in London." every one is already being drawn up Our compatriots sometimes display a certain anxiety, however, about the firmness 'With which the Government will out their promises of "prompt and carry sound justice." A clandestine newspaper has taken us to task for not explaining sufficiently to the country the Government’s plans with regard to the imposition of judicial punishment after the war, or "for doing it in such sibylline words that they do not commit far." referring to the us very Another secret journal, special courts to be set up and the rapid procedure to be applied in.dealing ’with the traitors, writes: "In order to prevent the disastrous effects of a ’popular injustice,’ it is essential that we be given guarantees in this matter." The expression of these misgivings has convinced us of the necessity of speaking clearly, and of informing the country of our intentions, our plans, and the beginning that has been made to them into effect, shall do with for carry Vfe so prudence, we must be careful not to the traitors hints be give the enemy or any that might useful to them. Qur intentions. The Government 'Want justice to be swift, firm and complete. Swiftness: They have learned from, the experience of the last war that a justice which is slow in which is coming into operation, hampered by cumbersome proceedings, or which leaves room for successive amnesties, does not the sound of the satisfy public opinion country, and loses large part of its a exemplary effect. Firmness; The gravity of an offence is to be estimated by the quality of the offended party. Crimes ’which might have meant the end of our country can only be judged 'with the utmost severity. /Completeness; - 3 - Completeness; Every guilty must be given the punishment that he person deserves, regard, for his.social position, his financial standing, his connections; gthout or the more important his position the greater the scandal of his helping the enemy, and the more impressive must he the reparation. But the punishment of collaborators and bad citizens will not be limited to penal sanctions; must also be taken all those severe measures against who, though they did not actually betray the State, heave served it ill during these tragic years when resistance to the enemy, and civic firmness, have been imperative* The Government Iso intend that pecuniary sanctions, in the form of fiscal or other janadties, shall bo imposed those who have enriched themselves cither by from on advantages received the and organisations instituted inspired by him, shameless exploitation enemy or or by of the misery of their compatriots* Legislative measures Our lav/ of December 17, 1942, has provided with repressive text sufficiently us a * complete to impose on all those who deserve it a penalty adequate to their offenses. We have almost completed the drafting of p. law on denationalisation and on deprivation of civil and political rights* This law will affect a largo number of culprits for whom imprisonment, necessarily limited in duration, would prove inadequate it punishment. Its text will bo made known to you as soon as it is finally adopted: to of all /ill make it possible to exclude from Belgian public life, and deprive influence on public opinion, those who have shown themselves to be more devoted to the interests and the of Germany than to their Motherland. oppressive doctrines own final, touches to the laws of which will be We are also putting the procedure, the instrument of that swift justice which the Government desire. But our services arc now engaged on a more concrete task. The liberation of the country is rapidly have for the which must be effected in the first approaching, and we to provide purge few days, We arc classifying the innumerable particulars which reach us with regard to the actions of the traitors, and these will be by the country’s judicial authorities, at the proper time, for preparing their dossiers. In agreement with our compatriots in the occupied country, we shall take all steps cadculated to prevent the escape of the guilty and to insure their incarceration according to the* lav/. The far population will a.ssist the regular authorities in so as they are requested to do so. On the other hand, the population should be on their guard against There taking the law into their hands by inflicting summary justice. must be no acts of personal vengeance; no mob violence. The exercise of force must remain with the law, for the sake of Belgium's good name, /One of -4-■ . ' . One of the most disquieting problems now arising in Belgium concerns what I will call "last-minute conversations." Nov/ that victory is as sure as the sunrise, certain citizens of doubtful integrity who would have 'accommodated themselves very easily tc the German conquest, and who at the beginning of the enemy occupation remained completely passive, if not openly collaborationist, are now exhibiting a complete change of front, ventilating Anglophile ideas, deserting the pre-German organisations, and seeking even to wor- their way into ..active resistance movements. What is to ba? the attitude of the Belgian Government towards them? Are we to for- get the welcome these into the patriots’ fold, and forgive them past, once erring sheep their faults? The is clear. of them will be judged according to the answer Every one total of his offences, and present good as well as past evil will be taken into account. $ A who German to the last than who did for few man plays the game will pay more one so a months only. But it will not be enough for a man to be a "Robert Poulet" or a "De for few days by Becker", nor even to get himself dismissed from office, or imprisoned a the bad-tempered Germans, in order to be absolved of his former treachery. Belgian have it will of account, and full justice will a good memory; require every man an a account, of his actions. them confid- Perhaps these few explanations will reassure our compatriots and give ence. You know the policy to v/hich the members _f the Government in London, your representatives in free territory, have always adhered: in every domain where an and immediate solution is not required they limit themslevos to preparing questions make your decisions with full knowledge of the elaborating plans, so that you nay own facts. When immediate solution os called for as it obviously is in the matter of an - the Government make honest effort to out the punishment of traitors - an carry your well acquainted with them, not wishes and to interpret your deepest feelings. They arc they receive from but also because, in the ranfcs only through the reports that Belgium, of the Government and among their closest associates, there are to be iound an increasing number of who have lived among you and have shared the sufferings, the anger, and the0 men hopes of occupied Belgium. Faithful to desires, wo have prepared unfalteringly for the necessary work of your mcleaning in Belgium. We are convinced that the country will understand and will up ■ ratify the justly severe measures that wo arc now adopting. Thus we shall be able to live tomorrow, fraternally united, in a purified Belgium, and shall resume our tragically interrupted progress towards social progress--and justice. BELGIAN OFFICE OP INFORMATION ; BE PUBLISHED BEFORE I.QO p,r.i, 9/2/M ~ - No,, 9. SOUTH B.ST C»IUNIQUE NO, 97 Delhi, ? r2 AM In the surrounded party of Huakwno Valley on the 7th February, Chinese forces a south west of Two enemy the Japanese troops Taipha Ga, pockets of resistance near junction of Tanai and Taraugsa rivers were wiped out. The north bank of the Tanaj west river, west of Taipha G-a is now clear of Japanese troops. In an action of Taipha Ga che south bank of the Chinese forces inflicted considerable casualties on on river, the to enemy capturing some prisoners. On the Arakan front Japanese troops e erm .a .ok towards in ’he west : the Ngakyedyauk Dass, Severe fighting has been reported a--ea of Tgakyedyauk, and an enemy supply column was captured south of that place or. .1 7th attacks hove been February, by the Japanese on our positions in the Singhbyin area, Northeast of Buthidaung forces have hill feature and inflicted repulsed. our captured a considerable casualties on the enemy, Qri the 3th February, RAF dive-bombers of the Tactical nir Force, Easts n Command, attacked enemy positions in the Buthidaung area and at Badana and Taung ‘.<-z Bombs a j-e well concentrated in the target areas and the positions at Buthidaung wore heavily machine—gunne d, RAF fighters continued to harass the enemy’s communications, Fifty rivercraft were damaged and several sunk, while locomotives and rolling stock in the Bromo .rea were and in the Mawliak attacked, several heavily damaged. Buildings near Zehkuang area -..'ere being set on fire. During of bombs the night 7th/oth February, enemy aircraft dropped a small num er on the east coast of Ceylon, No damage or casualties were caused. U.S. medium bombers of the Strategic Air Force, Air Command, attacked the north of Budilin and Songong bridges, southwest of ijh.-nho on the Sth February. .tie span south to the oudalin the Songong bridge displaced from its pier and the approach ' l destroyed and rails and bridge was heavily damaged, At both bridges rolling stock was in the piwrs .damaged, Another formation of U.S. mediums attacked Japanese positions total of Badana, outside Akyab, on the same day, chasing heavy damage p formation of U.S. Force, air Command, A fighter-bombers of the Tactical attacked Nuntho, southwest of Katha, on February 6th, One big warehouse exploded with a red flash when hit other and two smaller warehouses large by heavy bombs. One large were destroyed and rolling stock was damaged. In all these operations one enemy fighter was shot down and one probably uestroyecu Two of our aircraft are missing. On the Sth February, in Nor‘ch Burma* Allied ground forces continued patrolling In the Fort Hertz area, British forces ambushed eighty Japanese troops and a number oi* suPply carts and 16 of the killed enemy, + +H—I—F+4 —1-+ +++ + * 9*2.44 - No«10. NOT NOR PUBLICATION, BROADCAST, OR USE ON CLUB TAPES BEFORE 0830 B.S.T, (i.e. FOR EVENING PAPERS) ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1944- ’ ' THIS EMBARGO SHOULD EE RESPECTED OVERSEAS BY PREFACING ANY MESSAGES FILED ’JITH THE EMBARGO. '• 1 LUXURY LINER S WARTIME JOB A former luxury liner, her superstructure cut away and a flight deck in its place, now serves the Royal Navy as an experimental aircraft carrier. On hoard this ship. - once M.S. PRETORIA CASTLE, now H.M.S. PRETORIA CASTLE - representatives of the British and American aircraft industries can watch their products Being tested under the conditions experienced at sea. . ■ Fleet Air Arm pilots and under the command of Commander peter observers, Bramwell, D.5.0., D*S»C», R.N., test anything from new types of flying •helmets and Mae ’Jests to deck-landing possibilities of new types of aircraft. The manufacturers and aircrews can then pool suggestions on the spot for the improvement »f the equipment on trial. The ship is also used, for other kinds of such the tests, as determining wind-speed necessary down the flight deck to enable various types of aircraft with varying loads to take off. The information is then issued as a guide to escort and Fleet carriers. The standardisation of British and American methods of signalling instructions to pilots for landing on and taking- off aircraft carriers is /another -2- view another problem being tackled on board this ship, with a to achieving maximum efficiency when British and American carriers operate as a combined force,. The experimental carrier was comr. luted as a passenger liner in the of but carried out two summer 1959> she only voyages, both to South Africa, before she was taken over by the Royal Navy and converted into an armed merchant cruiser. She operated for several months in the South Atlantic and then returned to a shipyard for her second conversion - into an aircraft carrier. Her captain is Vice-Admiral now R.B* Davies, V.C«, C.8., D*S.C», A»F.C*, one of the most senior pilots in the Fleet Air Arm. At the beginning >f • the war, he was Rear-Admiral Commanding Naval Stations, but towards the end of 1 he retired with the rank of Vice-Admiral. 941 was Not content to remain on shore, Vice-Admiral Davies 'went to sea again as a Convoy Commodore until he -was given command of a new escort aircraft carrier which he joined in America.'‘ He was.recalled to the Admiralty -where he served Commodore until he of the experimental as a was given command aircraft carrier. The Naval Air officers in the ship all are experienced men. * ++++4-+++++++++++ NAVAL AFFAIRS 9<2.A4 - No«l2» . Air Ministry No»12884 MR MINISTRY COivIiUNIQUE Last night, aircraft of Bomber Command attacked objectives in and. including the Gnome and Rhone aeroengine factory Germany France, at Limoges. One of our aircraft on intruder patrol destroyed a six-engined enemy flying boat over its base on the west coast of France. None of aircraft is our missing. +++++++ 13. Air Ministry News Service Air Ministry Bulletin No. 12882 AIKEN FAKERS When an enthusiastic group of airmen at a remote Coastal Command station in Northern Ireland decided to plough up the greater part of the vacant.land around their flying-beat base to raise crops, some of the local people wondered if they would bo successful. The climate- and the ground, they thought, were unsuitable. But today airman are proud of their last gear’s farming achievmcnt which raised £888.13»7d, and they arc busy again preparing the land for new seed. The greater part of the m-gney earned by their labours and purchases for they able to were buy the fruits of their work - is t. be used to- convert a station building into a dance hall, if official sanction is obtained for the scheme. The money made from the of fifteen and half of land, was produce a acres three of which wore not satisfactory. They have been scrapped under the 1944 programme and six additional acres, recently cleared of trees and rough growth, have been ploughed. "It was largely a matter of trial and errbr last year,” said the squadron leader in charge of the project,"and found that rats were rzroat an as the we as enemy weather. t In one night they cleared third of a big field of young bean plants. "Our tomato suffered from but we’ve had advice and better crop blight, expert results uro expected this year. "Ono can gain some idea of how profitably the airmen and airwomen employed their spare time by examining the individual items. "Brom onions wo made £so,lettuce £ss,cabbage £lOl, potatoes £lBo,radishes £2O, and small of Brussels sprouts £22.,10. and poultry peaches £5, a very area, Eggs -brought in a further £57.10". If the the scheme fcr dance hall goes forward, the money from last ye on’s fruit and to the nearest dance vegetable? will have eliminated a 14-mile journey building. \ x +++++4 —r ++++ ++ 9/2/U - No, 15 THS FOUjOIOLNG IS_.xN M.0.1. ISSUE NO, 4 0? TOIAY - BI BASIL CTNGm. REPRESENTING: THE COMBINED BRITISH PRESS With the Fifth in Italy February 7 Casualties from both shelling and air attack have been surprisingly light. Corporal Clifford Brown of Wind.yrid.gc, Shipham, near VZ ins combe, Somerset, despatch rider, with Public Relations, while taking copy from our base to the censor found himself in the centre of a shelled area. He had dismounted at the censor's office when there was a terrific explosion from a road nearby. He ran to what the matter and found sec was four occupants of a Jeep he had just passed lying on the ground hit by a shell. They had alighted from the Jeer and were on their way into a house when the shell exploded. One officer was dead and the others injured, two badly. the Brown carried, one man from the road, through/dust to the courtyard where he applied, dressings to them. Borrowing the Jeep he took the others to hospital. He then returned, and delivered, the copy. In three hours of intermittent shelling these the casualties of w'-ich were only I heard. The enemy's 210 mm. guns are believed to have a range of yards, whijh. would mean that the tip of Anzio point would, be within range of such a gun in the vicinity of Albano. The possibility that it would bo mounted on a railway truck makes detection difficult and. frequent changes of location easy. MINISTRY- OF INFORMATION ♦ 9/2/44 - No. 16 By Sholto Watt, Representing the Combined Canadian Press With the Fifth Army in Italy, Anzio, Nettuno Beachhead, Feb*B. A German airman made deliberate divebombing attack American a today on an hospital in this sector and killed two nurses, four doctors and fifteen patients, injuring others. This attack follows the bombing of three hospital ships and the miscellaneous strafing of ambulances, while it is the second time- this same hospital .as been attacked. Several anti-personnel bombs dropped and the reception where casualties were tent, were brought in on stretchers and the pre-operat ion tent where patients were awaiting surgical treatment were riddled with shrapnel. The hospital is well isolated from military installations and there is no apparent possibility of a mistake. Ono of the bombs landed the career of large Red Cross which marks the on a hospital site. The patients killed wore all Allied soldiers, wounded on this front• There were no German prisoner patients - unfortunately. The German attitude to the Geneva Convention has varied in the Italian campaign between the most scrupulous observance and the most unscrupulous misuse. There are oases on record where they have sought to send forward men on litters under the Red Cross and the men turned out to be not wounded and \ these used in efforts to infiltrate lines by this trick. Prisoners were eventually our have also been known to ask why the Allies arc so careful to respect the convention, the inference being that the Germans sometimes find it useful as a cloak. There has been considerable air activity by the enemy today but little results shot and three for a great deal of noise. Four enemy aircraft wore down today pilots captured after baling out. The news from here is that the situation is stable and little altered in the two The Germans made local advance last night but back again from past days. a are ■where they started. and with the The story is that our troops had been expecting a strong attack initial German movements they withdrew to positions prepared for such an eventuality. -As it was not a strong attack however, our men shortly moved back putting out the Germans with very little trouble. Ve hear echoes here of dramatic stories circulating in the world’s capitals about how our troops are throwing back fierce and determined German counter-attacks on a considerable scale. Wen the big attack comes there will be no mistaking it. It has not come yet. J /One of « » -2- One of the factors in cur favour is that the weather is still clear bombed the permitting air attacks ©n the enemy and good observation* To-day we towns- of Cisternia and Littoria and considerable enemy traffic was observed leaving in haste* So we shellec 1 the traffic. The consequences of failure of the big attack in this sector would be serious for the enemy and he is believed to be still bringing up forces around the beach- head* The Rone marshalling yards are busy and the defence works in progress around the city indicate that the Germans attach much to the importance holding place. Fighters are being brought in from elsewhere and being lost in arc proportion to three of theirs to of one ours. Three Germans to-day drove flock of a sheep towards our lines in one sector. The object was to find out if had set we anti-personnel nines and if so to set then off. There nay or not have been nines at the front nay to-day but lan pretty sure there are nutton chops there to-night. H—r-T++-!-+-r-i-H—r+++++-,—l—r-r+-{-+++ I.ZIhdSTRY UF 9.2.44 - N0.17» BY V4UGH4N THOMaS REPRESENTING THE COMBINED BRITISH PRESS February 7j has occurred in the situation during the pest No change bridge-head hours. The is still vigorously shelling forward troops twenty-four energy our and strafing from the air. Our airmen are also active and many dog-fights are taking place in the clear sky over the bridge-head. I olumns of brown smoke curl from bombed Cisterna and Littoria and Heavy c up from the higher of the could traffic moving out ground bridge-head we see enemy in a hurry from both towns. The clearer weather curbed the enemy’s but he is still ground movement, building up his strength against the beach-head. He is also increasing his ack—ack. This is of air threat. artillery daily, especially his light proof our It is reported that the enemy is preparing defences in the Rome area. The enemy will not make his major effort to attack the bridge-head until he has built He that would up stronger forces. cannot risk failure, as mean disaster to his forces further south. In the meantime he is going all out to I contain us and is continually probing for any weakness in our line. We should avoid the situation; have not yet been comparisons .>rith Salerno we T seriously attacked and the recent fighting, though savage, has been preliminary sparring. The Germans show their old in of the methods adapted to gain cunning some information about defences and drove flock of sheep our yesterday they a large towards the American lines to spot probable minefields. +++++++++++++++++++ MINISTRY OF INFORMATION " ■ "■ '■ 9/2/4A - No, 18 NOT FOR PUBLICATION, BROADCAST OR USE ON CLUB,TAPES BEFORE 2330 B.S.T. ON \®DNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1%4 (i.e. FOR MORNING PAPERS ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10) NOT TO BE BROADCAST IN MIDNIGHT NEWS OF FEBRUARY 9-10 ® r . ™ IS ,w Simultaneous publication has been arranged in Mauritius and west Indies OF ST, LUCE, MR. E.F. TUNING'S APPOINTMENT It is announced by the Colonial Office that Hr. Edward Francis Twining, C.M.G., M.8.E., Director of Labour, Mauritius, has been selected for appointment as Administrator, St, Lucia, Windward Islands, +++++ 1 COLONIAL OFFICE DRESS SECTION A of the late Reverend U.H. G. Westminster 1899 son Twining, he was born at in and was educated at Lancing College, and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, He was an officer in the 'Worcestershire Regiment, and was subsequently seconded to the King’s African Rifles, In 1930 he was appointed an assistant Administrative Officer in the Northern During Coronation celebrations in Uganda he Provinces, Uganda Protectorate, the was in charge of the organisation of a military Tatoo. In 1938 Mr. Twining was entrusted with)investigations concerning the possibilities of broadcasting development in Uganda, In the sone year he was selected for appointment as Deputy Head of the then new Labour in Department of Mauritius, In 1939 he became Acting Director of Labour Mauritius and subsequently he became Labour and Public Information Officer in that Colony. -- 4 +++ + +++ + + 9/2/44- No. 20, NOT FOR PUBLICATION, BROADCAST BULLETINS, OR USE ON IN OVERSEAS CLUB TAPES BEFORE 2330 HOURS FRIDAY FEBRUARY 11,1944 (i.o. TOR SATURDAY HORNING PAPERS) . NOT TO BE BROADCAST IN MIDNIGHT WS OF FEBRUARY 11/12. OVERSEAS BULLETINS SHOULD BE PREFACED WITH THIS EMBARGO.. Air Ministry Bulletin N0»12869 ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE - ROYAL AIR FORCE AWARDS NO, 737 The King has 'been graciously pleased to approve- the following awards with effect from 20th January, 1944 in recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy in Now Guinea;- DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS. Wing Commander Gcorffrcy Dimmock Nicholl, Acting Flight Lieutenant lan Sandford Loudon. Acting Flight Lieutenant Gordon Neville ".cad. ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE The King has been graciously pleased to the following awards in approve recognition of gallantry displayed in flying operations against the enemy in the Solomon Islands;- DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS. Flying Officer Donald Fraser Ayson. Warrant Officer William Noel Williams, D«P«M» DISTINGUISHED FLYING MEDAL NZ.4-21 273 Flight Sergeant George Edwards Hannah. DIRECTORATE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS, AIR MINISTRY, WHITEHALL. ++++ + + + + 9«2>4A- - No* 24 CG .LINED E.T.O.U.S.A AW A.M. JEMS SERVICE C.E.A.M, 47 ; / STRONG- AIR ATTACK ON FRENCH COAST Strong formations of A.A.F, and. R.A.F. medium, light and fighter-bombers swept across the Channel in sunny weather this morning to continue their hard-hitting attacks on military objectives along the Northern French coqst and strategically important rail- way yards further inland. By noon, hundreds of our aircraft had returned from widespread operations in North Eastern France, and had not reported a single encounter with enemy fighters. Operations started before dawn, when ground crews at airfields in Southern England oombed up Typhoons and Hurricanes, ’which flew out across the Channel before breakfast to open the assault on military objectives in the PAS DE CALAIS, The fighter-bombers, escorted by Typhoon fighters, reported many bomb bursts in the target areas. They encountered a display of heavy, medium and light flak, but reported a complete absence of enemy fighters. Flying their third mission in 36 hours, A.A.F. Marauders penetrated more than one-hundred miles into France to batter rail-way yards and engine repair sheds at TERGNIER, an important rail junction and distributing centre, mid-way between ST.QUENTIN amd SOISSONS. It was the deepest inland the Marauders have flown since they began operating from English bases last July, Other -waves of Marauders all flying under an "umbrella" of R.A.F., Dominion and Allied Spitfires, simultaneously attacked scattered military objectives in the PAS DE r LAIS. In all, more than 200 of the R.A.F, medium bombers crossed the Channel —to bring the Marauder 1 s score to more than 550 individual sorties over enemy territory ■without loss since dawn yesterday. Marauder indicated that their attack TERGNIER the by surprise, crews on caught enemy and reported that direct bomb hits were scored on huge engine repair shops, sheds and freight trains in the railway yards. Staff Sgt. Tony de Maria, of Race, Texas, bombardier on the B. 26 "Pete’s Avenger" •said: "I saw one of the main repair shops in flames, and black--smoke ’was streaming up i_om it, It was a lovely sight. In all Ely 34 missions, this was our best job." A of Eldorado, Arkansas, reported: "We could turret-gunner, Staff Sgt, Clyde Duke, see huge spirals of smoke rising 4>ooo feet into the air when we were well on our way to the French coast and home," Other members that train pulling out of the yard crew reported a long freight was -as the Marauder* attacked, and une bombardier said hi- formation’s b»mbs ripped up the centre of the marshalling yards and blew a number of freight .trains "sky high". R.A.F. Mitchells and Boston bombers -went out in strength to attack targets in Northern France. All returned safely after bombing. Among them 'were the Lorraine Free French Boston Squadron and Mitchells of-the Royal Netherlands Naval Air Service. Low—level attacks, again without lose, wore made by R.A.F. and R.A.A.F. Mosquitos, The Mitchells, Bostons and Mosquitos were accompanied by Allied Spitfire squadrons which provided escort and "umbrella". . ++++++++++++++++++++++ f $.2.44. No«24a. CORRECTION In our issue No. 24 of today, "strong air attack on French coast", sixth paragraph please read "In all, more than 200 of the A. A.F. medium bombers crossed the Channel" £tc. I.ANIBTRY OF INFORMATION. - No. 25 E.T.OUJ.S,A« rors RELEASE C.E.A.M, 48 "AMERICANS TAKE OVER THE FRENCH SKY” —_,' The following are quotations by Marauder orcws raiding marshalling yards at Tergnier and military objectives in the Pas De Calais area today. "Our bombs crashed in the centre of the marshalling yards, ripped up a. large Lt. Joseph Ci section, and blew a number of goods wagons sky high,” reported First Dick, of Akron, Ohio, bombardier-navigator on a Marauder piloted by First Lt. Donald Wo Allen of Grand Rapids, Michigan. De of Jacom ”1 saw the main repair shop in flames,” stated Staff Sgt* Tony Maria, from it. ’ exas, bombardier aboard "pete’s Avenger.” ’’Black smoke ‘was streaming up In all ry 34 missions this was our best job.” "All our bombs dropped into the yards which looked like a pin cushion spiked with of bombardier bright pins,” said Second Lt. Theodore J. Ziemba, Cranford, New Jersey, on the Marauder ’’The Hearse.” have blown up installation in "Judging by the flashes, we must an electrical a remarked First Lt. C. Huber, of Shivley, Kentucky, bombardier marshalling yard,” Henry a navigator. "I bombs hit and marshalling yards and sheds,” said Frist Lt. C.R. saw repair shops of Illinois., bombardier the Second.” Stillmer, Chicago, navigator on "Little Joe, "Sheds and debris blown kicked that probably heard in were sky high. We up a row vzas Paris. seat. of "It was a good techni-colour show and we had a balcony Some cur bombs made • pretty blue-green flashes vzhen they burst," stated Second Lt. Emerson I. Daughman, of adllsville, Ohio, bombardier navigator on "Grandma.” Second Lt. William Barbour of Lynn, Massachusetts, bombardier navigator on the b»26 piloted by First Lt. A.F. Byrd, of Camden, Ark., watched his bombs fall into a huge engine repair shed. "The bombs burst across one half of the building," he said, "and I could sec smoke rising from the target as vzp pulled away." Staff Sgt, Clyde Duke, of Eldorado, Ark., turret-gunner in a bomber piloted by First Lt. George Backes, of Herlong, said: "The smoke 4,000 feet into the Calif., rose air. I'hcro were several that could be for miles after headed back huge spirals seen we toward the French coast. ' "A long freight train pulling out of the yard just stated First- vzas as vze attacked," Lt. C.H.Richardson, of Gdlmar, Texas, bombardier "Winnie Dee." "When the bombs navig. on started down, the engineer poured all the coal he could to try to out of the yard.” on get Tech. Sgt. Julian Baggett, of Teague, Texas, one of the Marauder gunners, said: "puffs of smoke were in the target area, so I know we did ,O.K. on this mission.” Second Lt. Wilson Cushing, Rochester, New York, a bombardier, said: "It was one of my best bombing jobs. Those bombs really walked right into the target." Major. Harold Moise, Suntcr, South Carolina, co-*pilot on the Marauder "Rocks Hill Special”, said; "Cur bombs poured through the clouds like/tremendous butcher’s cleaver.” "Our bombs sounded reveille for Jerry for the second time in said Staff a row," Sgt. George L. Fraza, of North Billerica, Massachusetts, tail-gunner on "Marty" Marauder, "The Americans took the French over sky this morning”, said Staff Sgt. Everett Chrisco s Melbourne, Arkansas, bombardier on the Marauder "Jail Flitter." ++++++++++ 9.2.44 - No. 26 NOT FOR PUBLICATION, BROADCAST, OR USE ON CLUB TARES‘BEFORE 2330 B.S.T. ON LLDNESLVY, 9th FEBRUARY, ’ 1944 (i.c. FOR MORNING PAPERS ON 10th FxWUAJff’, 1944). THIS EMBARGO SHOULD BE RESPECTED OVERSEAS BY PREFACING /NY MESSAGES FILED VSITH THE EMBARGO The King has Ucon graciously pleased, to approve the elevation of the status of Legations at Teheran, Mexico City and. Lima to that H.M. of Embassies. It is proposed that H.M. Representatives at these three capitals: .Sir READER Mr. C.H. BATEMAN, and Mr. COURTENAY BULLAE©, FORBES, shall he the first British Ambassadors to Persia, Mexico and Peru respectively. Persian, Mexican and Peruvian Ambassadors will shortly be accredited to the Court of St. James. FOREIGN OFFICE NEV.'S DEPARTMENT - No. 27 9 eeditemuhelin cemunique no. 19 Allied Force Advance H.Q 9th February, 1944 ’ SE„: Allied Naval Force Allied have continued their Headquarters - warships shelling of the Formia area. An ammunition dump was blown up and casualties inflicted on the enemy. LAND: Allied Central Mediterranean Forces, Italy. Advances were nade by both British and American troops on the main Fifth Army Front. Fierce fighting continues in and near Cassino. In the Fifth Army’s Anzio beachhead, the continued to probe our positions. One of enemy our hospitals was bombed and strafed by enemy planes. Eighth Amy troops inflicted heavy casualties on a large enemy raiding party, Patrols were active on all fronts. AIN: Mediterranean Allied Air Force Headquarters - yesterday, heavy bombers attacked the airfields at Viterbo and Medium bombers bombed Tarquinia. troop concentrations at Cisterna and railway yards at Siena. Light bombers attacked gun positions and troops and destroyed a number of motor vehicles. Shipping off the Dalmatian coast was bombed by fighter-bombers. On the night of February 7/3, night-bombers attacked the railway yards at Padua, During these operations five enemy aircraft were destroyed. None of ours is missing. M.A.A.F. flew approximately 1500 sorties. H —l-+++4—i —F++++ % 2.44. N0.28. ■ ' ' ' UAH From Basil Gingcll, representing the Combined British Press Feb. 8. Anzio German forces Varying their tactics against the Allied, forces on the sector, during last night made a series of counter-attacks in brilliant moonlight. Previously the concentrated section only enemy has chosen dark night for and has movement on one a for thrust. His latest effort was, four-fold probe, backed by artillery a however, a support and strengthened by tanks. is for the Increasing strength gathering around the sector a possible reason greater numbers, while artillery arriving in areas opposite our front here may be part of the reported line prepared before Rome. It was a noisy night along the whole front, artillery from both sides firing away » until well after dawn, while flares hung suspended over no-man's-land like great lanterns. . I saw fires blazing away on a hillside apparently from our shelling, but had no means of knowing what was ablaze. Two of the counter-attacks fizzled, out almost at once, the under his dead and wounded. enemy withdrawing a withering fire, leaving behind But two others obtained, some initial success', which took until this afternoon to clear up. These attacks began about 10 o'clock last night when some fifty German machine- gunners infiltrating through our lines gained positions which opened the way for a stronger force following which had the backing of tanks. Taking the fullest advantage of the success, the enemy started digging-in while fifty men who had started the push went even further. Tanks from dug-in positions acted as artillery for the forces following up, and by daylight had made a slight bulge in our lines. The fifty men who had started things rolling did not get far, and every one was either taken prisoner or killed. Before midday Allied forces were attacking to win back the lost ground. The enemy resisted stubbornly, and in some places fierce hand-to-hand engagements ensued before he could be ousted. He and again his operation proved was ousted, however, costly in casualties and prisoners, for again I see them coming in. There sporadic air attacks by the varying from few planes are enemy continually, a to comparatively large formations. and These attacks arc also proving costly, through them the enemy has lost many of his best pilots. The forces against us increase daily. Still no major attack has yet developed. MINISTRY OF INFORMATION. 9.2. U - No, jO Air I.linistry News Service Air Ministry Bulletin No. 12887 fzlench .aac-emganes factory bombed The Gnome and aero engine works at Limoges, 200 miles south wast of Paris, was attacked last night by a snail force of Lancasters. This is a new factory built in 1939 unci was in Vichy territory according to the Armistice division. When the Germans occupied the whole of France the Limoges factory went out of production. When the threat of bombs on the German aero-engine industry became acute, the changed his mind and enemy evidently thought it better to keep this works going in a distant part of France. The makes Gnome and lihbne radial aero-engines. It is Linoges plant a target which has only recently become important, but at the present stage of the‘war serious damage to it will add to the strain which the German aircraft industry is now feeling so severely. Lancasters bombed in'bright moonlight and through the clear skyl The attack was made from far below the usual operational height, mostly from under 10,000 feet. The smoke from the fires started by bombing had already begun to cover the target area when the last of the small force turned for home. There was no opposition from ground defences in the immediate neighbourhood of Limoges. 9/2/W - Nq. 32 MR. ROLAND BURROWS TRIBUNAL FOR NEWCASTLE The Hone Secretary has appointed Mr. Roland Burrows, K.C., to be the Tribunal for the purposes of the enquiry into the administration by the Council of the City and County of Newcastle-on-Tyne and its Committees and Officers of their functions in relation to the Police and Civil Defence Resolutions Fire, Services. setting up the Tribunal were passed by both Houses of Parliament. ■ Mr. Francis Mees, B.E*M., and Mr. Kenneth A.L. Parker, will serve as Assessors for the purposes of the Tribunal. The Secretary of the Tribunal will be Mr. T.S. Turnham. of the Home Office* The enquiry will be held in public in the Civil Assize Court at the Moot Hall, Newcastle-on-Tyne, and will open at 10. JO a.m. on Tuesday, IJth February, 1944. HOME OFFICE Not to be broadcast in the Midnight News Gf gob. 9/10.i4» 9.2. 4a-. No. 34-. Not to be published by the British Evening Newspapers. WEATHER HELPS THE GERMANS By Emery Pearce, representing the Combined British Press Advanced Air Field, Wednesday. With levildoring suddenness the weather has again changed. Once more clouds are heavy and low, a strong wind is shipping up the sea and there are sporadic, driving rain storms. air bear It means simply that today the Allies cannot bring their full effort to around the that the Germans will be able to extent to on targets bridgehead, a large get on with the job of bringing in troops and supplies without being bombed and strafed. This, in conjunction with the fact that abominable weather for the last eight ni nights las practically cancelled out cur transport busting and road blocking I itrudcr bombers, will inevitably make the task of ground forces much harder. And our just so God knows grim and hard enough even on the finest day when we can put over hundreds of bombs and fighters. Since this audacious landing began .three weeks ago the accent has always been on the weather: wo wanted good weather for the initial three days and. fortunately got it; we still want good weather,- clear skies and. a smooth sea so that the two other integral parts of the operation to - planes and ships - can work efficiently the same end, to help the to fight back and. advance. arry hold, A gale means that smooth seas are turned into surging, lashing waves that slow up or stop supplies going into Anzio port or the difficult beaches by our flat bottomed landing supply craft. Bad weather is Kesselring’s greatest ally, our greatest enemy. It is no wonder that our men fighting in that beachhead look up hopefully at the sly every dawn and dusk, trying to guess whether they will be able to say "good day” - and mean it. MINISTRY OF INFORMATION. 9/2/U No. STIFF FIGHTING IN ITALY By Vaughan Thomas Representing the Combined British Press & Radio. February 8, Thc enemy last night renewed his counter-attacks on the most extensive scale. delivered series of He a punches all along the lino of the bridgehead. The thunder of artillery echoed over the whole area a-head of our forces as tho sought to find a weak spot in defences. On one side, the Germans enemy our got a small group across tho linos but a counterattack flung them back with the loss of prisoners and dead; in another sector tho attack was crushed by artillery fire. In a third sector the enemy met with initial success with punches on both sides of tho road. The left punch was hold but the right punch was stronger and made a bulge in our lino. Fifty of the enemy infil- trated and reached the road but w»re all wiped out in a counterattack which eliminated the bulge and restored our line. The enemy made a second punch this afternoon and fighting is still in progress. Those attacks wore all costly to the enemy in dead and prisoners. They are marked by heavy artillery support and usually begin at night. This present blow was launched at 10 p.m. This may be a new departure as the Germans are not favouring night attacks. The full moon almost turned night into day and this have influenced him to launch this probe in our may defences. He has not used his armour on a big scale yet and is unlikely to until he thinks he has found a weak spot in our linos. the hard Meantime he will continue to try these attacks, tapping around shell of our bridgehead and harassing our back areas with long-range shellfire. The. German air force is also active and the is using his best pilots enemy with out of tho and flak. Their is a proof of export tactics, diving sun use to smash beachhead. the importance Hitler now attaches to an attempt our Yesterday was fine and bright moonlight; tonight rain is beginning to fall with low clouds. +++ + + + MINISTRY OF INFORMATION - No* 37 NOT FOR PUBLICATION OR BROADCAST OR USE ON CLUB TATES BEFORE 0030 8..5.T. ON THURSDAY 10th FEBRUARY 1944 Not to be transmitted before that time., except to before "UNPUBLISHABLE, UN BROAD CASTABLE AND’ UNTRANSMISSIBLE is tonnage amongst the lowest monthly figures for the whole war. The German claims should, as usual, be ignored as they are grossly exaggerated and issued, purely for propaganda purposes. 4*4-+4-+++4-+++ 9.2. U - No, 38 Not to be broadcast before OOJO 3.5.T. 10th, February, Not to be used by British Evening Newspapers. ITALY From E;icry Pearce, Representing the Combined British Press Italy, Yfcdncsday. We wont in to the bridgehead in an infantry landing-craft, only we had no infantry, We were packed out with American nurses. They had tumbled on board staggering under portable beds and big tin holdall boxes. There refreshing girl’s It were names on then, Mary, Joan, Pixie, Edna. was a perfect night, with a bright noon and a cool breeze , as the craft moved silently north to the beaches battle. sat the deck and chatted softly They on together as girls always do. They made us - the only four men-feel very self- conscious. There were one hundred and five of then. Then Mary began to hum "Home Sweet Hone". The others took it up, A hundred pretty, in uniform, with hair blowing attractively awry, nurses, sweet If sang songs. you had seen it in a film, you wouldn’t have believed it, A perfect tropical night, charming girls sweetly silhouetted and softly singing. They still sang when we cane to the benches, still sang while bombs and shells whined and crumped. Many of the girls had friends on the three hospital ships bombed, friends who died on the St. Davids. Many had previously been bombed and sunk in hospital ships at Sa.lerno, Many were wearing the American Purple Heart - awarded for being wounded# I last saw them as they filed into the bridgehead, shouting greetings to British troops who st od back and cheered. It to hear those girls in that awful noise of war. was strange The only nurses in the bridgehead were working in and around a field hospital the beaches all on the other day. Of course there were big Red Crosses over the place. In broad daylight two German dive-bombers came over. They deliberately bombed the hospital, of course. Direct hits turned the hospital into a bloody shambleg-.of flapping tents and dead bodies. Four doctors, four Wounded soldiers being treated, sixteen medical orderlies - and two nurses were killed. it little the Perhaps it Maybe was Mary who loved British airmen. was buxom Pixie who studied politics. Fifty-three other people in the hospital - In out including more nurses were injured, some badly. all, twenty-two persons of that hospital were buried on those beaches. There were maybe more. Death up there is death of broke the a commonplace, but the those two nurses practically hearts of many tough men, - the men who arc fighting. They have a cold disgust, 4110 30 enony* ' 9.2.14 -No. 59. Air Ministry News Service Air Ministry Bulletin No, 12890 OHOSS CHANNEL ATTA CIS CONTINU'D. When "weather conditions across the Channel early this afternoon intervened to close offensive operations, the R.A.F. had carried out more than 750 sorties-against military targets in Northern France, Out of all these attacks in vdiich six typos of aircraft were employed, only one pilot is missing. Few aircraft fight to our forces enemy gave but of our pilots had to face strong barrages of heavy, medium and many light flak. Excellent results were obtained by these day bombers - Mitchells, Bostons and Mosquitos - which included a Free French Squadron, another of the Noyal Dutch Naval Air Sexvice, and an Australian one. The Mosquitos attacked from low level and the Mitchells and Bostons from medium level* Their attacks were successful and the Dutch crews