SEVERAL RAIDERS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 39, 26 November 1940, Page 5

SEVERAL RAIDERS

SINGLY OR IN SMALL GROUPS.

COASTAL TOWNS OF BRITAIN

VERY SMALL CASUALTIES . (United Press Association—Copyright.) (Received This Day, 10.50 a.m.) LONDON, November 26. Since dawn several enemy bombers, operating singly or in small formations, crossed the south-east and south coasts, states a communique, and one small formation reached the outskirts of the London area. A town on the'coast of'Kent was at tacked shortly before noon, several houses being damaged. The casualties, however, were very small. Bombs were also dropped on a town on the south coast and at two other points on the south-east of England, causing slight damage and no casualties. *

A Dornier was shot down at sea off Dover this morning. A Spitfire pilot, flying at 5000 feet, first saw the raider 7000 feet above him. He climbed to attack, fired. two short bursts, and climbing agajm, dived out of the sun. Pieces fell from the Dornier, which was last seen heading slowly for France, losing height.—British Official Wireless.

LONDON’S QUIET WEEK-END.

TOWNS IN THE WEST ATTACKED.

MANY CASUALTIES FEARED

LONDON, November 25. A communique issued by the- Air Ministry says that Germany’s main air attack on England last night was against towns in the west. The raids began soon after dark and continued until nearly midnight, the German planes being met everywhere by fierce anti-aircraft fire.

An early report said that one town was heayily attacked by large formations of German bombers for several hours. It wqs feared that there were many casualties. The enemy came over in large numbers and dropped flares, followed by many tons of incendiary and high-explosive bombs. Raiders were also reported to liave been operating over Wales. Among the places damaged in the west of England were two churches and a home for elderly people, which had been evacuated before the raid.

German bombers-. werey de- - » London liad,:'-its quietest weekEnemy activity yesterday was slight and attempts by German planes toreach, r London?were -driven off. Little damage was done and there were few casualties. Three German planes weresliot tlowii; :

Widespread attacks were made oil Saturday, but, with the exception of a heavy raid on a south -c.oast.tQwn, little damage was done. After the raid on this town, one shopkeeper posted up the following notice outside his shop. “Good morning, everybody. Business as usual, with Hitler’s new ventilation system.”

TANKS DESTROYED.

ITALIAN LOSSES IN AFRICA. ACTION LASTS FIVE HOURS. LONDON,. November 24. A newspaper correspondent in the Western Desert gives the first full account of a tank action 60 miles south of Sidi Bartrani last Thursday. The battle, which lasted for five hours, was the mechanised equivalent of the dashing cavalry -attack of other days. Eleven Italian tanks were destroyed or damaged, and 11 Italians were captured. The British. base ‘ received a. signal early in the morning that one of its patrols was being attacked by a large Italian force. The British went out in some strength-, and when their dust was seen by the Italians, the enemy opened a' heavy fire. The British held their fire until within 200 yards -of the enemy, when they wheeled so as to take up thje best position to find'the vulnerable spots in the enemy armour. Besides the 11 Italian tanks lost, two ammunition lorries were blown up. Meantime, British bombers.have,carried out effective raids against Italian bases in Libya-and Italian 1 East Africa. Land operations include a British success on the -Sudan border, where the Italians have been driven out of a frontier post near -Gallabat. Italian patrols in this area will now venture out only after dark. So much for the Italian claim that Gallabat is. still ip their hands.

In a clash between a superior Italian mechanised force and British units, the enemy were driven- off .with losses.

A communique from General Headquarters in Cairo states that- ; British patrols, , supported 1 by artillery, continued activities in the area between Gallabat and Metemmn. There is .no change on bth-er fronts. ;' ’ A report from Alexandria says that enemy aeroplanes dropped bombs in Alexandria- this morning, injuring 11 persons and causing'slight damage.