AIR RAID ALARM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23592, 28 February 1940, Page 11

AIR RAID ALARM

PARISIANS AWAKENED <

WEST FRONT INCIDENTS ACTIVITY OF PATROLS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received February 27, 7.27 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 27 The shrieking of air raid alarm sirens roused Parisians at 4.30 a.m. fco-day. The "all clear" followed after an hour, during which citizens in pyjamas watched from windows on the boulevards while anti-aircraft shells burst in the clear sky. These were-criss-crossed by searchlights. The French communique last night said: "It was a quiet day on the whole. Anti-aircraft guns around Paris fired for 15 minutes at 8.45 p.m., and searchlights swept the skies. The alarm was not sounded." The morning communique had reported increased patrol activity on the Western Front between the Moselle and the Saar. >

A Berlin communique sta'ted: "Our chaser patrols on the Western Front and over Heligoland Bight failed to make contact with the enemy, but we shot down a French aeroplane of the Potez "63" type (twin-engined fighter reconnaissance machine) in the Eifel district, between the Rhine and the Moselle.

The Berlin official news agency referred to an intense in which "German troops clashed with a bigger enemy force, but nevertheless carried out their reconnaissance plans." It added that British attempts to fly over Heligoland Bight were frustrated. The whole of the Western Front is quiet, according to this mornings French communique. ALLIES' PEACE AIMS DIFFERENCES DISCERNED FRENCH WRITER'S COMMENT PARIS, Feb. 26 Asserting that there were certain differences of expression between the speeches of M. Daladier and Mr. Chamberlain, which might sow seeds of misunderstanding, "Pertinax," writing in L'Ordre, suggests a joint memorandum defining the Allies' peace aims. " Mr. Chamberlain perhaps reserved too much space for the hypothesis of a Germany devoted to peace," says the writer. "We hope this Germany will emerge, but any treaty risk is precarious which leaves Germany her army with its organisation and power. " M. Daladier's demand foe material and positive guarantees of peace is preferable to Mr. Chamberlain's call for tangible evidence which will satisfy us that any pledges or assurances will be fulfilled." / •