LONDON’S CALM

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 239, 6 September 1940, Page 7

LONDON’S CALM

RAID WARNING IGNORED ACTIVITY CONTINUES. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received September 6, 9.30 a.m RUGBY, Sept. 6. The first raid warning of tlie day-in London sounded at 10 a.m. (British summertime) and lasted 55 minutes. Public confidence in the R.A.F. fighters and the ground defences to give protection to London was again completely justified, and the business life of the population continued almost unchanged throughout the warning period.

In the Central London area the public shelters, which have recently been vastly increased in numbers and are widely distributed, were almost deserted during the warning period. In Government offices and the premises of war business concerns watchers were stationed on the roofs to give a warning to the staffs if the raiders approached their area. This did not occur, and the workers pursued tlieir normal duties uninterrupted. PEDESTRIANS’ COURAGE. In the streets there was no evidence in the behaviour of pedestrians that enemy aircraft were attempting to approach London. The railway trains, nuses and taxicabs proceeded on tlieir journeys. Horse traffic, on the other hand, was warned by the mobile police to withdraw from the streets. The public of London is noticing that the period of daylight raid warnings has been getting shorter recently, and that the “raiders passed” signal often sounds without the enemy reaching beyond the outer fringe of the area. They deduce that fighters and the anti-aircraft guns are succeeding in breaking up the German attacks quickly. While on his way to visit the New Zealand troops in the south of England yesterday, the Premier (Mr Churchill) watched one of the air battles from the dining-car of his train, which pulled up at a suburban station after a warning had been sounded.

BOMBERS SHOT DOWN. An Air Alinistry and Ministry of Home Security communique states: During last night’s action over Britain two enemy bombers were intercepted and shot down by our fighters shortly after ‘midnight. Enemy aircraft in considerable numbers crossed the South-East Coast this morning and some penetrated to the outskirts of London. Some bombs are reported to have been dropped in this area, but from preliminary reports it does not appear that serious damage was done. Our fighters and anti-air-craft guns went into action, and losses were inflicted oil the enemy.

It is officially stated that 39 enemy planes were destroyed to-day. Twenty of our fighters are missing, but nine of the pilots are sale. In destroying -54 enemy aircraft on Wednesday we lost 17 fighters of which 12 pilots were saved.

DRAMATIC ALARM IN COMMONS. The sirens sounded in’ London in the afternoon shortly after; tlie House of Commons reassembled. The Speaker (Captain E. A. Fitzßoy) said he understood arrangements had been made to inform him when a raid was more imminent. The House carried on normally, but the galleries were cleared.

Ten minutes later the Speaker ‘suddenly interrupted questions and announced that a raid was imminent. The House adjourned and resumed at 4 p.ni. The Speaker, said: “The warning -is still on. AVc are still alert.” The all-clear was given at 4.56. NAZIS SCATTERED.

The anti-aircraft defences broke up big formations of raiders over the Thames Estuary during tlie London warning this morning. Fighters pursued and scattered the Germans.

Waves of raiders crossed the SouthEast Coast this afternoon heading for London and an air battle followed. During last night’s raids a bond) directly hit and completely demolished a church in the London area. A number of incendiaries dropped in London set fire to works, causing severe damage.

Several flat dwellers wore killed when the first bomb of the war fell on a north-western town and two houses were demolished. Anti-aircraft fire in Wales continued last night incessantly for several hours. Many crude oil bombs were dropped. Four members of the crew from a Heinkol shot down in the south-east today were armed with automatic rifles. Three members of the crew were killed and the fourth taken prisoner. ATTACKS RENEWED.

An Air Ministry and Ministry of Homo Security communique issued at 9.15 p.in. stated: Enemy aircraft renewed their attacks tbis afternoon. Large forces crossed the Kent coast and split into two sections. These were reinforced by a smaller number which followed them across the coast. These formations attempted to attack aerodromes on both sides ol'• the Thames Estuary. They were all engaged by our fighters and driven back. Bombs were dropped on an industrial installation oil the Thames-side. Some damage was done, but otherwise the attacks' were unsuccessful, and no casualties so far have been reported. It is confirmed that the number of casualties resulting from this morning’s attack was very small, but includes some fatal injuries. The bombs dropped in several districts of Kent this morning caused little damage.