RAIDS ON LONDON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24450, 8 November 1940, Page 7

RAIDS ON LONDON

TUESDAY NIGHT'S BOMBING LONGEST OF THE WAR CASUALTIES AND DAMAGE 'Rritish Official Wirelersl (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph Copyright) RUGBY, Nov. 6. An Air Ministry and Home Security communique states: Reports on last night's raids over this country show that in a town in the east of Scotland a public house was demolished, and a number of persons sheltering there were killed. In London, though the damage to houses was more widespread than was at first thought, the general scale of damage in the capital during the night was not heavy, and it is confirmed that the number of casualties was not large. London's night raid Was the longest, of the Blitzkrieg. "All clear" was not given until after sunrise. Bombs which fell on a crowded London area during the night killed six persons and demolished premises. A man, his wife, son, daugh-ter-in-law, and a baby are believed to be dead. In the gast of Scotland and the Midlands commercial and industrial premises suffered somewhat severely. German Attacks in Vain Sir Archibald Sinclair, Secretary for Air, to-day said that German attacks, pressed home with courage, resolution and complete disregard for life and neutrality, had been in vain, and the R.A.F. was to-day stronger both in aircraft and personnel than on the eighth day of August, when the attacks began. The fighter squadrons were worked too hard and fought day and night, and until their ammunition had gone. Sometimes a pilot with all his ammunition shot away would ram a Nazi bomber rather than return. " One pilot saw a German bomber making for home. He charged straight at him, . but the German pilot put the nose of his machine down and dived straight into the sea," he said. " The German ' fighters were brave, but they were no match for our pilots, and they are afraid of these head-on attacks with our guns spurting bullets at them. On one occasion a formation of 18 Junkers bombers turned away from a single Hurricane charging at them head-on." Sir Archibald Sinclair paid a tribute to the pilots of the Coastal Command, who ceaselessly patrol the enemy coasts, and mentioned the work of the balloon sections, and the searchlight and gun crews, as well as the Observer Corps, all of whom vitally contributed to the defence of Britain.

It was a great mistake, he continued, to think that pilots were only concerned with defence, and he spoke of the continuous attacks made by British bombing squadrons on German sources of military supplies. " The weight of our bombing," he added, " has increased, is increasing, and will continue to increase." '

Raids on Wednesday Night Londoners had barely time to leave offices, shops and other places of employment and darkness had scarcely fallen to-night (Wednesday) before sirens heralded the most concentrated and unremitting German attack on the capital for some weeks.- Raiders, using heavy clouds as a safety curtain, flew low overhead and anti-aircraft guns immediately went into action against planes, the. hum of which was incessant. For the first few hours of the raid, which was the earliest thus far, the streets were completely deserted. A number of buildings were demolished and a Roman Catholic church in the London area was practically demolished. The Germans were apparently using bombers and fighter-bombers. Some were obviously forced to change direction to avoid accurate anti-aircraft fire. Bombs fell in several residential districts. Raiders were also reported over Liverpool, the Midlands, south-west England, and South Wales. • Several dwellings were wrecked in a southwest town, with some casualties.

POLICEMEN KILLED A STATION WRECKED LONDON, Nov. 6. (Received Nov. 7, at 11.55 p.m.) A bomb wrecked a London Police Station, killing several policemen. Two mox-e policemen were killed when six high explosives fell in another London district, seriously damaging a number of shops and houses. The • Germans to-day have not attempted big daylight offensives in any part of Britain, and have been using small formations. The greatest activity was over Southampton and the south-east coastal area. The Air Ministry states that six enemy aircraft were destroyed today. " Four of our fighters were lost, but one pilot is safe. Two persons were killed and others taken to hospital when six high explosives fell in one district. A number of houses were seriously damaged. An ederly man and a youth were killed when a shelter was struck by a bomb. Another shelter nearby was wrecked, and three women are missing. A bomb which fell in a garden between two rows of dwelling houses damaged a large number of the houses. A plane which is believed to be an Italian raided a south coast town to-night, killing several people, starting fires, and demolishing houses. Incendiary bombs fell in a thickly-populated area. Members of the A.R.P. quickly controlled the fires. It was the town's 175th raid.