Evening star., 1943-03-29
Nazis ST. Nazaire Submarine Base
Pounded Again by Raj Bombers;
Soviets Donets Line Holds Firm
Raid on U-Bout
Haven Follows
Berlin POUNDING
9y the Associated Press.

3s the Associated Press.
LONDON, March 20. - RAF
bombers resumed their assaults
on German submarine bases last
night, after the greatest raid of
the war on Berlin Saturday
night, by blasting the base at ST.
Nazaire with concentrated at
tack" the Air Ministry an
nounced today.
Two bombers did not return from
the st. Nazaire raid, which was
carried out in considerable strength
and added new damage to a U-boat
haven which has been attacked
often and heavily in the past.
Squadrons of bombers, escorted
by fighters, crossed and recrossed
the southeast coast this morning,
limiting at a continuation of the
intensive blows directed at Germany
and her satellites on the continent
during the week end.
Meanwhile, the German radio an
nounced that German bombers. re-
taliating for the Saturday night
Raj raid on Berlin and a daylight
raid yesterday by American Flying
Fortresses and Liberators on the
railroad yards at Rouen, France,
smashed at Norwich, England, dur
ing the night.
Londoners Expect Reprisals.
Londoners were elated at news of
the raid on Berlin, but most of them
expected quick reprisals by German
air raiders and made preparations
accordingly.
Many workers were observed
carrying steel helmets as they
started for work this morning
something that few have done for
two years or more.
Hit-and-run German raiders ap-
peared over the south coast this
morning and made direct hit on
school clinic in a coast town.
Rescue workers began digging in
the wreckage for members of the
STAN and any pupils who might have
been trapped there.
Authorities said two enemy air.
craft were destroyed during night
raids on Britain.
900 Tons of Bombs Dropped.
The great load of almost 900 tons
Of bombs hurled down on Berlin
Saturday night was almost double
the heaviest total of explosives and
incenciaries the German air force
dropped on London in its heaviest
attack.
(The German high command
communique broadcast from Ber-
lin and recorded by the Associ-
ated Press said Allied air attacks
against occupied western terri
tory caused heavy losses" among
the population.
tThe communique claimed de-
struction of 1S planes there and
over the Norwegian coast, an
area that the Allies did net men,
tion)
Last nights Raj attack on st.
Nazaire was the 46th of the war
and the fifth of the year. The base
was hit by the RAF last Monday
night and by the United States
Army Air Force in daylight Feb
ruary Is and March /.
Reuters heard broadcast by the
German-controlled Paris radio re-
porting considerable" damage to
private homes in yesterdays raid by
United States planes on Rouen. This
report said 80 bodies had been re-
covered.
Rotterdam Attacked.
Last nights raid completed week
end of vigorous day and night blows
by American and British aircraft.
Besides the terrific plastering of
Berlin, operations in the last 36
hours included attacks on Rotter-
dam, Duisberg and Axis commune
cations in Holland and Germany.
During the previous two weeks
heavy fog had given the enemy
brief respite.
A force of several hundred Lam
casters. Halifaxes and Strings took
part in the raid on Berlin. 1t was the
German capitals sixth raid this year
and the 59th of the war. The 900
tons of bombs showered down on
Berlin included many two and four
ton block busters. Fires we're visible
l20 miles away, returning pilots re-
ported
dispatches from Berlin to the
Stockholm newspaper Aftonbladet
said the raid, carried out in the
face of furious anti-aircraft fire,