STRONG DEFENCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23770, 25 September 1940, Page 10

STRONG DEFENCE

LONDON'S BARRAGE RAIDERS BEATEN OFF DAY AND NIGHT ATTACKS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received September 24, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 24 Raiders over London last night repeated their tactics of dropping calcium carbide incendiary bombs to illuminate the ground. Searchlights were active and guns and lights cooperated perfectly to trap and destroy two aeroplanes in the inner London area.

Raiders swept on London from many parts of the provinces. Bombs fell in central London and also in the southern and eastern outskirts.

After several noisy hours, London's j night raid developed into a series of', comparatively quiet and intensively active periods. The raiders persistently attempted to evade the barrage on the outskirts and to penetrate to inner London. They bombed the outer suburbs at random when they found it was impossible to elude the heavy fire. Some bombSj.however, fell in central London. Work Amid, Bombs Members of the A.R.P. services tackled incendiary bombs while raiders were heard overhead amid exploding shells. Two banks, a post office and a block of luxury flats were damaged in a north-west suburb. "Attacks were again scattered over many parts of the London area last night," states ari official communique this morning. "There have been a number of casualties, including some persons killed. "In a town in south-east England," continues the communique, "some houses were demolished, and a number of casualties resulted. Bombs were dropped in some districts in north-west England, in one of which damage was done to houses and a small number of casualties caused. Elsewhere reports indicate that damage and casualties were slight. "An enemy bomber was shot down in south-east England in the early hours of this morning." Eleven Germans Shot Down The Air Ministry stated that 11 enemy aircraft were known to have been destroyed on Monday. Eleven Royal Air Force fighters were lost, but the pilots of eight were safe. Agency reports, state that the London barrage accounted for two enemy aircraft last night. One came down in | Surrey and the second in the inner London area.

A communique issued by the Air Ministry and the Ministry of Home Security describing Monday's enemy air attacks says: "A formation of enemy aircraft, mostly composed of fighters., which crossed the Kent and south Essex coasts in the morning, were met and attacked by our fighters. The enemy formations were broken up and engagements took place over Kent and Essex and off 'the coast. No bombs are reported to have been dropped during this attack. South Coast Attacked "Later in the morning, the enemy 'made deliberate attacks on the civilian population of several seaside towns on itlie Sussex coast, in particular at Eastbourne. Houses were damaged, but fortunately the number of casualties was small. "Early in the afternoon anti-aircraft guns in the London area opened fire on a single enemy aircraft, which flew away without dropping bombs. "This evening another large enemy formation, again mostly fighters, crossed the Kent coast,, but did not penetrate any distance inland. They recrossed the coast on the approach of our fighters." A new gigantic four-engined German bomber and three formations of nine bombers crossed the Kent coast during the morning. Flying at a terrific height, they out-rangecl the anti-aircraft guns, but Spitfires and Hurricanes broke up the formations. The giant machine was last seen speeding toward the Channel, hotly pursued. Refugees Killed Seven refugees of different nationalities were killed and a number injured when a higli explosive bomb directly hit a large block of West End flats. The refugees had been sheltering in the basement for only 20 minutes following the destruction of their home, 100 yards away, by a time bomb. A passenger train was bombed and machine-gunned while standing at a south-east country station. Every window of the train was blown out, but there were no casualties. A high German source estimates that the Germans since August 10 have dropped over 50 ; 000,000lb. of bombs on Britain, destroying or seriously damaging 6000 factories and industrial plants, of which 1400 were in the London area.