ENEMY AIRCRAFT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23954, 1 November 1939, Page 7

ENEMY AIRCRAFT

FRUITLESS RAIDS ON ENGLAND DRIVEN OFF BY FIGHTERS WARNINGS IN LONDON AREAS (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, Oct. 30. Two planes were seen passing over a town in North-east England at 9 a.m. , Machine gun firing was heard. An air raid warning was sounded in Kent, the “All clear” being given 10 minutes later. Air raid warnings were also sounded in three other towns in South-east England, but were shortly followed by the “All clear.” Three thousand children were evacuated from schools in orderly fashion. The planes were hidden in low clouds. Gunfire was heard in the Channel during the air raid warnings. People in a north-easterly town going to business were astonished to see two planes flying low overhead. One opened with machine gun fire while people watched from the streets. Air raid wardens at the Ministry of Information ordered the personnel to take cover, and a few journalists carried on the work. Warnings were aNo sounded by mistake in the Holborn and Westminster areas. DUEL ON SCOTTISH COAST EXCITED SPECTATORS LONDON, Oct. 30. A German plane, flying westwards, was seen at Haddingtonshire, Three Royal Air Force fighters forced the raider to turn back to the North Sea The plane appeared over the East Lothian coast, apparently seeking the Firth of Forth. Flying low at terrific speed, it proceeded inland, where Royal Air Force planes chased it to sea. Townspeople watched the enc’ounter from their doorways. The Acting Provost of East Lothian is protesting against failure to sound the sirens when a. bomber was engaged and brought down on Octbber 28. It is officially staled. that the sounding of the air raid sirens in Central London was the result of police misinterpretation of a message, and the “All clear” was given within a few minutes. „ , . The air duel on the Scottish coast was fought over the housetops of a Berwickshire town, while hundreds, whose first intimation of the raider s approach was the roar of its engines, rushed from their homes to watch. A.R.P. workers had been cautioned, and were standing by, but excited spectators disdained to take cover and watched the raider streak across the town into a burst of machine gun fire from a British bomber, which was promptly returned. The British plane swerved into the German’s wake, and dashed in pursuit, flames spurting from the chaser’s guns as the planes passed from sight over the ’seafront. The raider fled to sea, belching smoke, and barely avoiding the cliff edge. ACTION NEAR DOGGER BANK DESTROYERS AND BOMBERS (British Official Wireless I RUGBY, Oct. 30.. The Admiralty announces: “ This morning, south of Dogger Bank, one of our destroyer flotillas came into action with two German bombers. There were no casualties in or damage to the destroyers, and it is not known whether the enemy suffered damage. BODIES ON NORFOLK COAST TWO GERMAN AIRMEN LONDON, Oct. 30. The bodies of two German airmen were washed up on the Norfolk coast at Happisburgh and Mundesley. dressed in flying kit. They had been in the water about three days. The Mundesley body was an officer’s, and it had a bullet wound in the temple. Apparently he committed suicide to escape exposure in the sea. The other body had bullet wounds in the eye and leg, probably received in combat. FLIGHTS OVER GERMANY ROYAL AIR FORCE MACHINES (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, Oct. 30. Addressing Royal Air Force cadets, Air Marshal Sir John Salmond said: “I have been talking to some of the -pilots who have been flying over Germany. They had extremely little opposition Thev say there is a type of German fighting machine which they believe cannot be flown at night except bv the toughest pilots because it ic so difficult to land. It turned out unstable to a marked degree.” Sir John added that he regarded the report as very encouraging. GERMAN ARMY LEADER REPORT OF RESIGNATION PARIS, Oct. 31. (Received Nov. 1, at 1 a.m.) The Petit Parisien publishes an uncorroborated report that General von Brauchitsch, the Germany Armyleader, has resigned. THE ATHENIA’S CARGO NO MUNITIONS CARRIED (British Official Wireless) RUGBY. Oct. 30. On instructions from his Majesty’s Government, the Ambassador at Washington has conveyed to the Government of the United States the following assurances regarding the sinking of the Athenia: — 1. The Athenia carried no bullion or securities, and no guns, munitions, or war explosives, either as cargo or stores. 2. She was not sunk either by contact 'vith a British mine, by a British submarine, by gunfire by a British destroyer. or by internal explosion, but, according to evidence in the possession of his Majesty’s Government, by submarine. 3. She was neither armed nor stiffened to receive armament of any kind. 4. It was not intended to use the vessel as an armed merchant cruiser, or in any other offensive capacity at the end of the voyage on which she was sunk. 5. The chief officer, B. McCopeland, of the Athenia. has sworn in an affidavit that he never discussed with Gustav Anderson the question of whether or not there were guns on board the ship, and that there were in point of fact no guns or other munitions carried as cargo in the ship on that voyage.