RAID ON BRITAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 31, 5 August 1940, Page 7

RAID ON BRITAIN

FRIDAY NIGHT ATTACK

SKIES LIT UP FIGHTERS' EFFECTIVE COUNTER (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright.) LONDON, August 3. Raiders were over England last night in the most widespread attack to date. The 8.8.C. went off tbe air, "in the interests of national security," for half an hour. The skies over the south-east coastal areas blazed with the flash of guns, shell-bursts, and searchlights. Fighters made a terrific dash to the sea and engaged the raiders, after which the sound of the engines of the fleeing planes quickly faded. A raid on one town in the southeast lasted for over an hour. It was the third attack of the night. Two formations of bombers, flying at a great height, turned tail from fierce fighter opposition before crossing the coast. Wales shook to the most violent anti-aircraft firing during the war when raiders released bombs over many towns and penetrated far inland. Bombs which fell in a town in the north-east of England shook the buildings on the seafront. The enemy also raided a district on the south-west coast, a town in the Midlands, and a town in north-west England. Haiders dropped incendiary bombs in a town on the north-east coast of Scotland, and large high-explosive bombs in a nearby village, where the defences gave the raiders a hot reception. Bombs fell in open country in the south-east and south-west of Scotland. DAMAGE REVIEWED. The Air Ministry reports that during last night enemy aircraft bombed the north-east of Scotland, the Midlands, the south-east of England, and the Bristol Channel area. Some damage was done in the latter area and there were a few minor casualties. A low-flying plane today dropped four high-explosive bombs on. holdings in north-east Scotland and damaged poultry houses. Fifty incendiary bombs and two high-explosive bombs were dropped in south-east England. All fell in open country except one, which destroyed a cottage. Many incendiary bombs were dropped in a Welsh coastal town, where there were a few casualties, but no serious damage resulted. The German High Command states: "During last night isolated air attacks were carried out against tank depots" and anti-aircraft positions in England. Extensive fires were observed. Several armed merchantmen were bombed yesterday off the English east coast hear Harwich and the Thames Estuary and also off the Hebrides, and three ships of a total tonnage of 16,000 were sunk. "Enemy planes which penetrated northern and western Germany last night destroyed houses and killed and injured civilians; they destroyed a farmhouse at Ehra, killing the farmer's family of four. "A U-boat of long-distance range sank seven armed merchantmen of a tonnage of about 56,118, including three tankers which were convoyed." LONDON, August 4. Enemy activity last night was mainly confined to the' Thames Estuary and the Scottish east coast. Bombs were dropped at a number of points in these areas and also in Wales, but no damage and no casualties are reported.