SEVEN DESTROYED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 293, 18 September 1940, Page 6

SEVEN DESTROYED

GERMAN PLANES OVER KENT. BOMBS IN SEVERAL DISTRICTS. SOME CASUALTIES IN LONDON (United Press Association —Copyright.) (Received This Day, 12.3 d p.m) LONDON, September 17. Ap Air Ministry and Ministry for liome Security communique issued at 11 p.m. states that enemy activity was on a small scale to-day until early in the afternoon., Although bombs were dropped in -widely-scattered districts in. the south and south-east of England little damage was done, but a small number of -people were killed or injured iii south-west London, At Portsmouth a church and several houses were hit.

A small number of people were injured at about 3.15 p.m when several large waves of enemy aircraft crossed the coast of Kent, flying in the direction of London, and a large force was dispatched to intercept the enemy. No major batle took place, but when contact was made over Kent the enemy promptly scattered and did not penetrate further inland than Maidstone. Reports so far show that before the enemy reached safety our fighters destroyed five planes and two were shot d(ffvn by- anti-aircraft fire. It is known that only 11 of our pilots were lost in the air batles on Sunday.—British Official "Wireless.

IN CENTRAL LONDON. * FINE SPIRIT OF THE PEOPLE. NEUTRAL OBSERVER’S PRAISE. (Received This Day, 12.55 p.m.) LONDON, September 17. Soon after 8 plm. Londoners had their fifth air raid warning of the day, and heavy anti-aircraft gunfire was sOoh heard in, Central London as well as in suburban districts. The citizens, heartened by Mr Winston Churchill’s tribute to their cour- , age, again settled down to “Hitler night” with that adaptability for which the Cockney spirit is renownled. Every variety of communal amusement is now resorted to by neighbours sheltering together while “they are overhead,” and it is difficult for an onlooker to realise, in the words of a neutral observer, that the Germans fondly imagine they are terrorising these patient, cheerful and undaunted people.—British Official Wireless.