Evening star., 1940-10-21
U. S. London Embassy Blasted;
R. A. F. Drops Bombs at Rate Of
100 a Minute in Big Offensive
Britain Will Seize
initiative, Two
Ministers Soy
BULLETIN.

LONDON (P.-The Royal Air
Force was believed to have re-
neWed it's hammering at Ger
man-held invasion" ports across
the English Channel in daylight
raids today. Explosions from
across the water were heard along
the southeast coast of England
this afternoon and shortly after
ward heavy aircraft. which OBJ
servers said were British bomb
ers. crossed the coast and few
inland, apparently returning
from an attack.
Ey the Associated Press
LONDON. Oct. 21-Two cabinet
ministers predicted today a British
offensive as Royal Air Force bombe:s
struck back with raids stretching to
Berlin and Northern Italy.
The day we can take the offensive
approaches steadily" Colonial Sec-
retary Lord Lloyd declared in
Glasgow.
Let us make no mistake" he
added. Until the air battle takes
place in German skies over German
land rather than in British skies
and over British fields and towns
the end of the war will not readily
be in sight
I'VE have to carry this fight into
the enemy's fields = we must not
find ourselves up against position
of stalemate.' declared A. V. Alex
ander, First Lord of the Admiralty
To Britons. their words stirred
135-year-old echoes of Lord Nelson
who laid down his life at the Battle
of Trafalgar October 81. 1905, to
secure this island kingdom from the
forces Of another continental con-
oueror massed, then as now, across
the Channel
It was that battle off the Spanish
coast 1875 years ago today which
smashed Napoleons fleets and set
the stage eventually for Waterloo.
Nazi Guns Pound Dover Shores.
As the ministers spoke, German
guns were pounding the Dover
shores presumably in reply to a
100 -bomb-a minute air raid last
night on the same bases across from
England where Napoleons barges
were massed.
Germany's naval docks at Ham,
burg and Wilhelmshaven were heav-
lily bombed last night and "a large
warship is believed to have been
hit" the Air Ministry reported.
The severity and breadth Of the
raid. In which British warships and
land guns also were believed to
have Joined, could be recognized on
this side of the Channel today,
Long after the sun had risen, a
red glow resembling a great prairie
fire could be seen plainly across the
water. 1t stretched in an unbroken
line for miles and gave the impress
sion that a great part OF the French
coast not only was in ruins but also
still was blazing flercely.
The glow was visible through the
Channel haze up to noon, the re-
suit of an "avalanche' of deadly
steel in which the British Press
Association said $1,000 bombs fell in
two and half hours.
Berlin. other parts of Germany
and Northern Italy were targets of
British night bombers engaged in
extensive operations" the Air Min
istry reported.
The attack on Berlin was said
to have been the 14th since Septem-
Der l and 225 British planes were
said to have dropped 200 tons of
bombs on the German capital since
then.
Bern dispatches said British
bombers crossed the Swiss from
tier "at many places" headed for
Italy. An Italian communique
reported eight persons were killed
and Is injured in attacks on
several of Italy'S northern prov
inces.
Berlin residents were sent to
shelters for the first time in five
nights by a raid during which
the German news agency, DNB,
said an apartment house was
wrecked and numerous civilians
were killed and injured0
Crowds Watch Bombardment.
The blasting of the Channel ports,
where invasion threats continued to
lurk in prolonged mild weather and
reports of Nazi activity, started
shortly after dusk last night.
Crowds along the English shore
(See OFFENSIVE. Page A-7D