CIVILIAN VICTIMS

Opotiki News, Volume III, Issue 315, 25 September 1940, Page 3

CIVILIAN VICTIMS

GERMAN MARAUDERS DELIBERATE ATTACKS -?■ TOURS OF ENGLAND BIDS TO REACH LONDON (News by Ca».—, .RUGBY, Sept. 23. A communique issued by the Air Ministry and Ministry of Home Security describing this evening’s air attacks says that a formation of enemy aircraft, mostly composed of fighters, which crossed the Kent and south Essex coasts in the morning was met and attacked by British fighters and the enemy formations were broken up. Engagements took place over Kent and Essex and off the coast. No bombs were dropped in this attack. Later in the morning the enemy made deliberate attacks on the civilian population of several seaside towns on the Sussex coast, in particular Eastbourne. Houses were damaged, but fortunately the number of casualties was small. Early in the afternoon the antiaircraft guns in the London area opened fire on a single enemy aircraft which flew away without dropping bombs. In the evening another large enemy formation, again mostly fighters, crossed the Kent coast, but did not penetrate for any distance inland. They recrossed the coast on the approach of British fighters.