R.A.F. Raids Last For Five Hours

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 234, 2 October 1940, Page 7

R.A.F. Raids Last For Five Hours

ALL-NIGHT ATTACK

Paucity Of Anti-Aircraft

Guns Surprises Observers

(United Press Association.—Copyright.—Kec. noon.)

LONDON, October 1

It was with great consolation that Londoners, tired after the 24th successive night-long vigil in shelters, went to work next morning to learn that Berliners had received the largest dose of the same medicine so far. Five waves at considerable intervals penetrated Berlin's defences and attacked the city and suburbs.

Neutral correspondents comment on the surprising paucity of the anti-aircraft fire, enabling the bombers to reach their objectives almost without molestation.

British activity for the most part was concentrated on the outskirts, where most of the industrial buildings are located.

The Berlin correspondent of the Stockholm newspaper "Afton Bladets" reports that Goebbels and Roberto Farinacci, the well-known Italian journalist and politican, were caught in the air raid last night and were forced to spend several hours in a shelter.

A special German communique states that three British 'planes were shot down.

The Berlin correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain says the R.A.F. last night dropped at least one high explosive bomb near Zimmerstrasse, Berlin's Fleet Street, which is only a stone's throw from the huge Air Ministry building and the Potsdam station.

A German communique says British 'planes were prevented from executing attacks on northern and western Germany. A few reached Berlin and dropped bombs from a great height. Damage everywhere was small, but a number of civilians were killed and injured.

Houses on the Kent coast were shaken last night when explosions on the French coast revealed that the R.A.F. was again "going to it."

i The main targets were apparently Calais Harbour and gun emplacements at Cap Gris Nez. Bursting bombs seemed to drench this stretch of coast in flame. Searchlights and thousands of tracer shells fantastically patterned the sky.