Evening star., 1941-07-31
British HurI Planes
Al Nazi Territory
From Land and Sea
Admiralty Claims Hits
Scored on Four Supply
Ships and Worship
n the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
LONDON, July 31.-PoWerful
British air raids flung from land
and sea on Germany, her domi-
mated lands from the French coast
to Northern Norway and her sea
lanes connecting them were re-
ported officially today.
Severe raids by naval planes on
the Norwegian port of Kirkness
high above the Arctic Circle, and
Finland's Arctic port of Petsamo
were announced by the Admiralty.
This was Britain's first blow OF
the war against the little Baltic state
which she befriended, giving money
and offering military help, in the
winter war between Russia and Fin
land less than two years ago.
She followed up these assaults
with a new daylight smash across
the English Channel today. R. A. F
Spitfires and bombers picking up
where bad weather stopped them
several days ago on the German
held French coast.
Four Supply Ships Hit.
The Arctic attack admittedly cost
Is British planes. but the Admiralty
said at least four supply ships were
hit, harbor works were pounded at
Petsamo, four opposing planes were
shot down and two hits scored on
the 1,460-ton German warship
Bremse, a pre-war gunnery train
ing vessel, at Kirkenes.
German reports described the
attack as a British Russian col
laboration-the first such joint
military action since the U. S.
S.R. became involved-and said
% British planes launched from
an aircraft carrier had been de-
stroyed at a cost of only two
Nazi planes. Russian losses were
not mentioned.
A Medlterranean-to Arctic scope
Vas indicated for the resurgent
British air offensive by Cairo an
nouncement that the R. A. F. fired
five planes and damaged several
others in an assault yesterday on an
Axis airfield and seaplane base at
Elmas, Sardinia, Italian island in
the Western Mediterranean. (The
italian communique said Cagliari. at
the southern tip of Sardinia, was
attackedD
LoW-diving British planes sprayed
the interior of hangers with their
guns, the r. A. F. communique
said, and in seaplane hangar a
fire was started from which smoke
arose visible for 20 miles.
Attacks on Reich Resumed.
The Air Ministry reported re-
newal. after a weather. enforced
lapse, of the air campaign against
Germany and neighboring occupied
territories with new overnight
poundings in the Aachen and CO.
logne areas of Western Germany.
The night raid followed a day
attack in Helgoland Blight in which
the Air Ministry said a vessel of
1900 tons was sunk. another of
1900 tons was left sinking and hits
were claimed seen on two more
ships. of 1,500 and 500 tons, respec-
lively.
In the Helgoland Blight raid the
Air Ministry acknowledged seven
British planes were missing while
in the night attack on western Ger
many three were missing.
Boulogne Docks Bombed.
Docks at Boulogne on the Ger
man-occupied French coast also
were reported bombed last night.
The Germans said small
forces of British planes bombed
several places in western Ger
many but failed to do extensive
damage.
Only few German night raiders
visited England, the government
said dropping bombs at scattered
points in the east and southwest
and causing slight damage. No
casualties were reported.
A violent thunderstorm which
swept over Dover Strait this morn
ing left the visibility poor and
promised to hold daylight aerial
dIAOlio W q
Weather Causes Lapse.
British sources said the recent
lapse in raids on Germany had been
caused by bad weather, either over
Britain or the continent. They re-
called that on only six nights had
the r. A. F. failed to attack Ger
many or German-occupied territory
since it launched its nonstop" Of
fensive June II.
From the start of this offensive
which Prime Minister Churchill has
promised would be intensified in the
fall-the r. A F. was busy for IA
consecutive nights before the wealth
er caused break.
Other breaks in the offensive oc-
Cured June 80 and July II. Though
last nights raid was the first on
Germany since Friday, Northern
France was attacked Monday night.