SCOTLAND RAIDED AGAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 94, 18 October 1939, Page 9

SCOTLAND RAIDED AGAIN

ATTACK AT SCAPA FLOW

Iron Duke Damaged

FOUR PLANES BROUGHT DOWN

COASTAL RECONNAISSANCES

(Daventry Broadcast.)

LONDON, Tuesday Night,

German planes made two more raids on Scotland today, and attempted a reconnaissance of the east coast. At least four German planes were brought down. The first raid was made on naval units at Scapa Flow by four German machines, one of which was shot down in flames and another probably damaged. Two bombs fell very near the training ship H.M.S. Iron Duke, and she received some damage, but there were no casualties. The German planes also attacked the Royal Mail steamer Stola, plying to Scapa. Bombs fell near the vessel, but she was not hit. A second air attack was carried out over the Orkneys be- ■ tween 12.30 and 2.30 p.m, the machines coming in two forma-' tions of six machines and four machines respectively. They did no damage and there were no casualties, but one of the German planes was destroyed. German planes reconnoitred along the east coast and caused air-raid warnings to be given in many east coast towns. Fighter planes and anti-aircraft guns were quickly in action, and no bombs were dropped. Two aircraft were brought down by fighters and fell into the sea. British aircraft returned safely. The crew of one enemy plane was. rescued. The length of the alarm differed in places. The first was at about 11 o'clock, and in each case the "all clear" was given in less than an hour. In the Firth of Forth there was a twenty minutes' warning a little later. One or two places in Kent had a warning in the afternoon. Tyneside had to wait for an hour before getting the * 'all clear.'' (British Official Wireless.) (Received October 18, 11.40 a.m.) RUGBY,, October 17. Describing the Scapa Flow raid in the House of Commons, the ... Prime Minister said that two bombs fell very near the Iron Duke, which sustained certain damage but no casualties. He recalled that the Iron Duke was an old battleship which had been demilitarised, with her armour removed, and was being used as a depot and training ship. One aircraft was shot down in flames and another was probably damaged. In an account of yesterday's Firth of Forth raids, Mr. Chamberlain said that twelve or possibly more German^ aircraft, in waves of two or three at a time, came over. Two civilians were slightly injured. The damage to civilian property was negligible. The naval casualties on H.M.S. Southampton and H.M.S. Edinburgh, which suffered slight damage but were ready for sea, and on the Mohawk, the damage to which was superficial, numbered three officers and thirteen ratings killed or died of wounds,1 two'officers and 32 ratings slightly injured, and 11 ratings seriously injured. The enemy was at once engaged by fighters. Four enemy bombers were brought down, one by gunfire. Also a number of other enemy aircraft were heavily damaged and may not have been able to reach home. (By j Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) (Received October 13, 1 p.m.) , LONDON, October 17. Mr. Chamberlain said it was not considered appropriate to issue an air-raid.warning because the attack appeared to be local and small and the defences were fully ready. A warning would have caused widespread; dislocation and inconvenience. The circumstances under which a train crossed the Forth Bridge would be considered. The local defences were fully effective. The Air Ministry announced that the observer corps reported enemy aircraft activity along the coast this morning and this afternoon. Air-raid warnings were issued in some districts along the coasts of Lincolnshire, East Anglia, and Kent. Immediately our fighter and anti-aircraft, defences went into action. No bombs were dropped in any of these districts. One enemy aircraft was intercepted oyer the Yorkshire coast and pursued out to sea. Air-raid warnings were'sounded at Hull, Bridlington, Grimsby, Felixstowe, Chatham, Southend, and Ipswich. •