The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-09-17

week, and concentrated instead oh industry and communications
 Despite the heavy losses, air cir raids "very satisfactory" in view of the devastation wrought by the Bri- tish bombers.
 Initial reports of "very large fires" indicated that intruder patrols of Pathfinders rained down thousands of incendiaries, setting targets ablaze and lighting the way for the RATS heaviest bombers with their high-explosive loads.
 Air circles made no attempt to minimize the nights losses.
 German planes sought to strike back at Britain in daylight raids to- day. Considerable air activity was reported this morning over the De- yer Straits. Three times, German planes flying out of brilliant sun, tried to cross the southwest coast. but were intercepted each time by British fighters.
 After the coastal anti-aircraft batteries ceased firing. observers heard planes diving from great heights, indicating dog fights over the channel. As the planes moved farther out over the water, the sound of cannonfire was heard.
 Germans Attack Earlier, the German radio said German bombers had attacked im- portant war installations along the British east coast with heavy bombs and that all German planes had re- turned safely. British sources said there were no casualties and only small damage in German raids on East Anglia.
 Of the British raids, radio Berlin said the RAF had attacked targets in the Rhenish Westphalian area of western Germany. It admitted damage was caused and said 37 British planes had been shot down.
 Although the British loss in the Ruhr raid indicated that. at least 780 planes, and possibly more, par- ticipated, 1t was pointed out that other factors, such as bad weather conditions, might have increased the loss disproportionately.
 The Ruhr raid followed a one- night lay-of in the RATS schedule of pounding important German ob- jectives. It was the ninth British raid this month, all of which were made by forces described officially as at least strong"
 With little more than half the month gone, there was reason to believe that September would es- tablish a new level for sustaind power in the RATS offensive. AL though there have been no 1,000- plane raids against principal Ger man cities, the great port of Bremen twice being bombed.
 Their Objectives
 Objectives have included Duessels dorf, Saarbruecken, Karlsruhe, Duis- berg, Frankfort, Wilhelmshaven and now the Ruhr.
 In addition to the heavy night raids. the usual mine-laying activi. ties have been carried out and fight. CT sweeps and daylight Boston ano Fortress raids have continued.
 Last nights Ruhr raid followed daylight sweeps yesterday by fighter command planes over northern France. The air ministry announced that the British planes circled ths German fighter base at Abbevilie France, without encountering Ger. man planes, and then patroled insida the French coast.
 Returning home. the allied planM observed about 30 German fighters above them over the English coast and climbed to the attack. Several Nazi planes were damaged and ont British plane did not return, c com munique said.
 Late in the afternoon, German long-range coastal guns sent Ayf shells across the Channel. Dover val Aierted for more than an hour aftel 2 few shells dropped in that vlcins ity,