Evening star., 1943-04-19
.Spezia, Italian Base,
Attacked Again in
Raid
One Bomber Lost in Third
Big Assault on Axis
Targets in ; Nights
BY the Associated Press.

shScoNiesSe
| LONDON, April 19.-British
nome based bombers made the
long trip across the Alps again
last night to blast the Italian
naval base of Spezia for the Sec
ond time in six nights, it was
announced today.
The attack was described as heavy
and concentrated and while it was in
progress aircraft of the fighter COM
mand struck at enemy destroyerS at
Lorient, the German naval and sub
marine base on the French coast.
One bomber failed to return from
the attack on Spezia.
Strong units of the Italian feet
were suspected in hiding at Spezia
Observers said the success of the at
tack and the weakness of Italian de-
fenses was shown in the contrast be-
tween one bomber lost last night and
55 missing from the two-ply blow
against the Skoda works at Pilsen
and at Mannheim in Germany Fri
day.
1850 Mile Round Trip.
AS the black winged bombers were
berthed in their hangers. Raj fight
ers carried on the aerial offensive
with morning sweeps over the Dover
Straits.
The Italian communique said Spe-
zia was one of the several targets of
-four -engined American bombers, "
suggested twin Allied assault from
north and south on the great naval
base which the Raj blasted last
Tuesday night. There was no con-
f1rmation from Allied quarters that
the Americans, too, had attacked
Spezia. The Italians said it is
not yet known the number of cas-
ualties among the civilian popula-
ton in Spezia."
Since Naples is within easy range
of Allied bombers based in the Mid
die East, it was considered probable
that the bulk of Mussolini's navy
might be lying in the Spezia road
steads against possible need in the
final pattle in Tunisia, or in the
evacuation of the remnants of the
Axis army. The fleet has long re-
fused to risk combat with the Brit
ish Navy, but the italian men O. war
are now reported under German
direction.
Three Massive Attacks.
The gauge of the increasing Allied
air offensive is exhibited in the fact
| that the Raj was able to press
home three massive attacks in the
space of three nights on Spezia, Pill
sen and Mannheim. Last year. any
of the three missions would have
been considered unusual.
While the Russians were hitting
Northeastern Germany. United
States fighter -bombers and heavies
were out Friday and Saturday. Thus
the Germans and Italians were
threatened day and night from all
sides.
In the attack on bombed
Lorient, Beaufighter pilot said can
non shells were fired when he was
only 300 feet off the target. One hit
the side Of destroyer and caused
some sort of explosion on the deck
The superstructure of another de.
stroyer also was damaged by an ex.
plosion which sent smoke curling
high.
Convoy of Is Ships Attacked.
The raid on Italy was launched
after a day of activity in which Raj
smashed at an enemy convoy of Il
ships off the Dutch coast, leaving
one vessel ablaze. and handed the
docks at Dieppe another battering
London was under an alert twice
in II hours because of approaching
enemy planes and a third time after
false alarm. One German plane
approached the city last night ano
set off terrific barrage of anti
aircraft fire. No bombs were dropped
Early today a small force of enemy
raiders reached the outskirts of Lon
don, but was driven off before any
bombs could be dropped Bombs
fell at two places in Southeast Eng
land, but there was little damage and
no casualties were reported.
The attack on the convoy was car
ried out by Beaufighters Of the
coastal command. escorted by Spit
fires. and one pilot reported: II saw
(See RAIDS, Page A-l20