22 German Planes Down Yesterday

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 258, 31 October 1940, Page 7

22 German Planes Down Yesterday

DAYLIGHT ATTACKS ON LONDON DISPENSED LONDON, Oct. 29. About 160 raiders, mostly flghterbombers, tried to reach London during four alerts to-day. A very small proportion penetrated the outer defences. During the first raid, high-explosive bombs demolished two houses in London. A man was killed and a number wounded, several seriously, when a London crypt was directly hit. Another bomb hit a London hospital mortuary and narrowly missed a ward in which there were 50 patients. Seven bombs fell in the district, but there were no casualties. A bomb damaged an institution for crippled children in South-East England. Water poured from broken pipes. Seven children were slightly injured, and a cook and a housemaid were killed. The Air Ministry states: “The enemy has attempted a series of four attacks on London to-day. The aircraft involved were fighters or fighter-bombers. A large number of our fighter squadrons engaged the enemy, and few of the latter succeeded in penetrating the London area. Only a small number of bombs have been dropped, mostly in the outskirts of the capital, and little damage and few casualties are reported. Attacks Made on Portsmouth. “At the same time, an unsuccessful attack was made on the Portsmouth area. The attack was broken up, and no reports of bombs have been received. “Reports received up to 8 p.m. show that 22 German aircraft were 'shot down during the day’s engagements over Britain. It is also known that a second enemy bomber was destroyed on Monday night. Seven R.A.F. aircraft are missing, but four of the pilots are known to be safe.” A later report dealing with a second attack on the Portsmouth area says that enemy aircraft, flying high, dropped a number of bombs, damaging several houses. Casualties were caused, including a small number of people killed. The north east coast on Monday right had its longest air-raid jo far. Highexplosive bombs were dropped at five points, and the damage was slight and the casualties few. Night Raids Less Intense. On the whole. Monday night’s raids were less intense, especially in London, where for hours neither planes nor gunfire were heard. Later, bombs fell on a church and an invalids’ heme, where there were some casualties. An Air Ministry communique states: “There was enemy activity over a number of disrticts on Monday night, but the attacks were confined mainly against London and the Midlands. The attacks diminished in intensity before midnight. Shops, houses, and other buildings were damaged in London. A few fires broke out, but these were quickly brought under control. Some I people were killed. A large number of incendiary bombs dropped on a Midland town caused many fires, mainly in shops, but all were soon under control.” The Air Ministry reports that four German aircraft were shot down in

Monday’s raids. There were no British losses. London offices of foreign banks damaged in recent raids include the National City of New York, Old Broad Street, and the Yokohama Specie Bank, Bishopgate. RUGBY, Oct. 28.