GERMAN BOMBINGS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 111, 11 May 1940, Page 12

GERMAN BOMBINGS

ALLIED WARNING

"APPROPRIATE ACTION*'

RAIDS REPORTED

FRENCH AND OTHER TOWNS

(By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright.)

(Received May 11, 12.45 p:m.)

LONDON, May 10

The British and French Governments announce that they reserve the right to take any action which is considered appropriate in the event of enemy bombing of the British or French civil populations or of those in countries assisted by the Allies.

Reports-from the capitals of France, Belgium, and Holland, in all of which countries enemy bombs' have fallen during the day, show that the populations preserve exemplary calm. There were no signs of panic. In Paris the only outward sign of excitement was the eagerness with which the latest editions of the newspapers' were snatched up.' As is inevitable in the circumstances, there has been some exaggeration in reports of the effect of bombings. It is stated officially that the Germans also bombed the aerodrome at Longwy. Eighteen bombers were shot down during these attacks. The aerodrome at Calais and some .R.A.F. aerodromes in northern France are reported to have been bombed. Raiders visited Paris, but dropped no bombs. Two villages near Boulogne are also reported to have been bombed. The Germans raided Mery-sur-Oise (France), between Pontoise and Chantilly. ;-.•'■ Thirteen* persons were killed and 30 wounded in an air raid on Lyons. A block of flats was destroyed and a block of workers' fiats hit. The Berlin radio claims that German planes bombed military objectives in the east and middle of France, destroying three aerodromes, including that at Metz.

The' Belgian Defence Ministry announced: "One of our pilots brought down a - Messerschmitt 109. Another brought down two German planes. Anti-aircraft guns shot down four or five Merrerschmitts and a Heinkel 111."

It is learned that four incendiary bombs were dropped at Chilbam, near Canterbury, early today, by German planes flying at a high altitude.

LONDON, May 10

Very fierce anti-aircraft fire in the Thames Estuary began at 4.40 a.m. and lasted 20 minutes after the sighting of five German planes. The gunnre shook adjacent buildings and shrapnel fell in the streets of riverside towns. The planes continued their course eastward, apparently heading for Chatham. The Air Ministry announced that Royal Air Force fighters shot down five enemy planes during attacks against Royal Air Force aerodromes in France in the early hours of this morning.German . planes bombed several French towns, including the open towns of Nancy, Lille, Coimar, Fontoise, and Luxeuil. These are described by the Germans as not being open towns. Dead and wounded are reported at Nancy. Raids against the Debron airport and Lyons began early this morning and continued for two hours. One raider was shot down.