MONDAY'S CASUALTIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23481, 19 October 1939, Page 11

MONDAY'S CASUALTIES

ENEMY PLAN OF ATTACK HEAVY LOSSES SUFFERED (Received October IS, 7.30 p.in.) LONDON. Oct. 17 Tlie Prime Minister, Mr. Chamberlain. informed the House of Commons that 12 enemy aircraft in waves of two or three at a time were engaged in the Firth of Forth raid on Monday. Three British officers and 13 ratings were killed or died of their wounds, two officers and -J2 ratings were wounded by shell fragments, and two civilians were slightly injured. Mr. Chamberlain said it was not considered appropriate to issue an air-raid warning, because the attack appeared to be local and small, and the defences were fully ready. A warning would have caused widespread dislocation and inconvenience. The circumstances in which a train crossed the Forth Bridge would be considered. The local defences , were fully effective. Authoritative naval circles believe that the raid cost the enemy possibly GO per cent of its forces engaged. The Germans claimed that they hit two cruisers, whereas they hit one with a bomb which did not explode. BRITISH LOSSES NEWS NOT CONCEALED FRENCH PRESS APPROVES British Wireless LONDON', Oct. 17 The French press has been commenting with approval on the promptness and candour of the British announcements, whether the news is good or bad from the British point of view. Thus the British Admiralty at once told the world of the loss of the aircraft-carrier Courageous and that of the battleship Royal Oak. In connection with these losses it is pointed out iu naval circles in England that the loss of one out of Britain's six aircraft-carriers means in terms of tonnage that the total is reduced from 122.900 to !()(),100 tons, while five other aircraft-carriers are in various stages of construction. In capital ships Britain lias lost one old vessel out of her total of 15, or 29,150 tons out of 474,700, while seven new capital ships are being, built. HARBOUR DEFENCES CANADIAN PRECAUTIONS ANTI-SUBMARINE NETS LAID (Received October 18. 0.1 <1 p.m.) OTTAWA. Oct. 17 A spokesman of the Canadian Defence Department stated in a broadcast that anti-submarine nets and defences against motor torpedo-boats had been and were being laid in harbours on both the Canadian coasts. Also, naval units and aeroplanes were constantly patrolling tin l coasts.

MACHINE DRIVEN DOWN AMSTERDAM, .Oct. 17 • A Gorman pursuit aeroplane compelled a British aeroplane to land near Lingen. Germany. The British machine struck a farm building and was set on fire. Three airmen, one of whom was wounded by machine-gun fire, were saved.