NIGHT ALARMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23748, 30 August 1940, Page 9

NIGHT ALARMS

TUESDAY'S BOMBINGS MANY TOWNS ATTACKED DAMAGE AND CASUALTIES LONDON, August 28 In addition to attacks on London, enemy raiders were reported on Tuesday night from two Scottish areas, three towns in Wales, two in south-west and eight in south-east England, seven in the Midlands, and three in the north-east. Compared with, the previous night's activity, Tuesday night's raid periods in the metropolitan area were uneventful. An incendiary bomb crashed through the roof of a large building in one London district, but firemen promptly dealt with it. . . "Most Exciting Raid " One area in south-eastern England had its longest and most exciting night raid, which lasted intermittently for several hours. Many incendiary bombs were dropped, and a big fire lit up towns for miles, but firemen had the flames under control within an hour. A 12-year-old boy and also a 19-year-old girl were killed when a bomb fell in the garden of a house in the south-east. There were many explosions in northeastern England. High-explosive bombs demolished a house in the London district. Coastal Town Suffers Eight high-explosive bombs fell on a south-eastern coastal town shortly after midnight, causing considerable damage, including the demolition of a nursery.There were no casualties. Another salvo fell in a neighbouring district a few minutes later. Fighters intercepted the raiders. A Messerschmitt, after a sharp clash, streaked out to seaj rapidly losing height. Two other Messerschmitts attacked balloons, shooting one down in flames. A raider is believed to have been shotdown off the Welsh coast last night. BRILLIANT SPECTACLE SCORES OF SEARCHLIGHTS FLASH OF BURSTING SHELLS LONDON, August 20 A number of parachute flares were seen to drop in London during Wednesday night's raids, while searchlights were exploring the sky. There was a wonderful spectacle as over. 50 searchlights; concentrated on two points from which the drone of enemy aeroplanes was heard. Dozens of searchlights at one period converged on a heavy aeroplane when two brilliant .flashes lit up the sky, followed by the rumbling crash of heavy explosions. Rapid anti-aircraft fire opened and the aeroplane appeared to quit, for the searchlights swung in a new direction. As the raid entered the sixth hour, action became fiercer and anti-aircraft guns blazed away furiously. The flash of exploding shells could be seen. Four aeroplanes appeared to be engaged constantly swinging in. and out of the London area. One was caught in a searchlight, beam and immediately dropped several screaming bombs. NEW FRENCH PRETENDER (Received August 20, 5.35 p.m.) VICHY, August 29 The Comte de Paris has succeeded the Due de Guise as Preteuder to the Throne of France. He has assumed the title of Henry the Seventh of France,