NAZI RAIDERS ROUTED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 238, 5 September 1940, Page 7

NAZI RAIDERS ROUTED

MORE BATTLES OVER BRITAIN HURRICANES’ FURTHER TOLL (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—• Copyright.) Received September 5, 9.35 a.m, LONDON, Sept. 4. London had another air raid alarm lasting nearly two hours early this afternoon. British fighters shot down at least five German raiders in a battle over a south-east inland , area during the afternoon, and no bombs were dropped. The German machines fled after the formation had been split up by. Hurricanes. Anti-aircraft guns opened up in the Thames Estuary against planes flying at a great height British fighters routed a strong force of enemy raiders in a terrific battle over a south-east coastal district, two raiders being shot down within a few minutes. One fell in flames inland and the other dived into the Channel about three miles from Folkestone.

Reports up to 7 p.m. show our fighters to-day destroyed 45 enemy aircraft, of which 33 were bombers or fighter bombers. Eleven of our fighters were lost, but the pilots of five are safe.

FEW NAZIS PENETRATE. An Air Ministry and Ministry of Home Security communique states that this morning two forces of enemy aircraft crossed the South-East Coast. One attempted to bomb aerodromes in Kent and the other, after crossing the Thames Estuary, made a similar attempt against aerodromes in Essex. The enemy were promptly engaged by our fighters and anti-aircraft guns and only a few succeeded in penetrating the defences. It is reported that some bombs were dropped, but so far as is known there were no serious damage or casualties. The Air Ministry states that Tuesday night’s enemy attacks against Britain were not on an extensive scale and were mainly directed against the northwest and Bristol Channel area, where towns were attacked with highexplosive and incendiary bombs. A number -of dwellings were damaged, some seriously. The casualties were not numerous in the north-west and north-east, but some casualties, of which a small number were fatal, were caused in the Bristol Channel area. Bombs were dropped in a few other parts of England, chiefly in country districts and the Home Counties, also in Scotland. Waves of bombers raided a northwest coastal town. Some houses were demolished with fatal casualties. One crude oil bomb fell in a northwest town, slightly damaging a warehouse and smothering the wells with oil. NURSING HOME HIT. • An incendiary bomb struck a nursing home and a high-explosive bomb damaged several houses in a row. Rescuers found a baby whimpering but unhurt under the debris. Over fifty bombs fell on a south-east coastal town early in the morning. Several fell near the town hall and a number of houses were set on fire, but there were no casualties. A north-east town was twice raided, but no bombs were dropped, although the raiders hovered about for some time. / Raiders were also active over vv ales, where odd bombs were dropped. It is claimed in Berlin that 39 British planes were shot down in the battles yesterday and that 12 German machines are missing. The British Ministry of Home Security, in a statement at the end of t'he first year of war, finds the country s c,ivil defence such as to give full satisfaction and confidence. The damage caused to property bv bombs, while occasionally severe locally, is inconsiderable if the country is taken as a whole ~ , . Civilian casualties would have been far greater but for the shelters. Tne impairment of the country s industrial and war effort is negligible. #