Evening star., 1941-07-24
Nazis Forced 10 Shift
More Planes From
Russia, London Says
81 British Croft FeIled
In Costly Day Roids,
Berlin Declares
py the Associated Press.

Hy the Associated Press.
LONDON, July 24.-Unprece-
dented opposition from increasing
hundreds of Messerschmitts which
are rising daily to counter the R.
A. F.s incessant daylight sweeps
over Northern France was cited by
informed quarters today as con-
elusive evidence" that Germany has
been compelled to withdraw sub
stantial air forces from the Rus
sian front.
They are proof the sweeps are
achieving the major objective of
preventing the ElftWaffe from con-
centrating all its power for the de-
struction of the Soviet air force"
these sources asserted.
Their comments followed the
declaration of an R. A. F. wing
commander that more MesSer-
schmitts than ever before were
encountered in a late evening sweep
yesterday.
Nevertheless. since dawn today
RELAYS of British bombers and hght-
ers have been shutting across the
Channel in attacks against Nazl-
occupied territory.
Strongest Opposition.
The R. A F. officer said the oppo-
sition was the strongest yet en-
countered by the British and was
compelling the R. A. F. to fight its
way into France and out again.
Informed sources, however, dis
missed German reports of having
destroyed "a R. A. F. planes yester-
day as the same old Goebbels
stuff" and asserted that their own
Acknowledgement of Is planes lost
against IL German planes destroyed
tells the whole story
1T should be known by now that
we are not in the habit of saying
anything eXtravagant.
Some British sources expressed
belief the R A. F.'s pounding of
Germany and the occupied terri
tories day and night. in good
weather and bad. has had a major
effect on enabling the Russian air
force to meet the Luftwaffe on rea-
sonably even terms.
Rhine Valley Targets.
Today's relays began only short
time after the last of the R. A. F.
night bombers had returned from
raids in which. authoritative sources
said. industrial targets at Frankfurt
and Mannheim in the Rhine Valley,
were bombed for the third success
sive night.
Just before noon one exceptionally
large formation was heard thunder
ing over the water above the heat
haze. and minutes later watchers on
the Kent coast heard distant thuds
as though big bombs were exploding
some distance from the French
coast.
In the afternoon another big for
nation streaked across the strait,
apparently intending to hit the
French coast between Boulogne and
Calais.
Fires Left i'm Mannheim.
Although large number of planes
were flying at only about 1500 feet,
it was almost impossible to see them
through the heat haze. and observers
remarked that if the skies were the
same across the strait the R A f.
evidently was set for daring low
level attacks like a recent one on
Rotterdam.
Reporting on night raids, the Air
Ministry said particularly large
fires" were left in Mannheim Docks
AT lie Havre. France. and Ostend.
Belgium also we're bombed. it was
said and an R A. F. coastal patrol
get fire to a German ship and de-
stroyed a German fighter off the
Norwegian coast.
Nazi Activity Not Heavy.
German activity over the British
isles last night was described by the
Air and Home Security Ministries as
more widespread than in recent
nights. but not on heavy scale.
Liverpool seemed to be the princi-
pal objective of the LuftWaffe Bombs
were dropped in boroughs on the
Merseyside. but none were reported
falling in the port city itself.
One of the fierceSt anti-aircraft
barrages ever put up by Merseyside
ground defenses," greeted the Ger
man planes, an eyewitness said.
A shelter in one town was hit and
p number of casualties were feared.
There were some casualties, too, in
Scotland. the British said. One Ger
man plane was shot down.