LONDON GUNS

Opotiki News, Volume III, Issue 318, 2 October 1940, Page 3

LONDON GUNS

VIOLENT WELCOME NAZI MARAUDERS MORE PLANES CRASH TRAIL - OF- DESTRUCTION LIVES AND PROPERTY . WAVES OF RAIDERS (News by Cable.) LONDON, Sept. 30. The Air Ministry states that bombs were dropped at several painty in the south-east of England yesterday afternoon. High explosive and incendiary bombs m a town of Kent set lire to a garage. A few persons were killed. Single planes attacked several points of the Midlands without causing material damage.

it is officially stated that up to 8 p.m. 43 enemy aircraft were destroyed. The Brit.sh fighter losses were 16, with eight of the pilots safe.

Royal Air Force fighters and antiaircraft defences were constantly in action to-day, in the course of which the enemy made four large-scale attacks on the south-east of England. .About 100 shops and houses were demolished and a public, house was wrecked and a club house seriously damaged in the . south-west of London last night. A raider jettisoned his bombs in a north-west London residential quarter, damaging houses and w.pmg out a family of three. Big Forces of Raiders

The raiders during the first daylight ra.d to-day consisted of big forces of bombers and lighters. At least 50 bombers escorted by lighters crossed the coast in one wave. British machines engaged the raid-di-s over western London later in the morning.

An Air Ministry and Ministry of Home Security communique states that the first two attacks, which took place at about 10 a.m. and 10-J5 a..ui. respectively, the enemy crossed the coast near Dover and penetrated some 40 miles inland, but none reached London, In the course of these raids bombs were dropped in several places in the south-east, notably Bcxliill and Hastings, and some damage and casualties, some of which were fatal were caused in each of these towns. About an hour later a third attack was in ado across the Dorset coast, where the enemy was engaged, hew of his bombers penetrated for any distance inland, and no reports of bombs have been received. About 180 Aircraft A fourth attack was the largest, and began soon after 1 p.m. About 180 aircraft Hew ovc.r Dungenes and again inland, but-wove engaged and broken up before reaching the outskirts of London. A few enemy airera: t, however, evaded the defences and succeeded in dropping bombs on the western subuurbs. Here damage was done and casualties caused, but details arc not available concludes the communique.

Night raiders were again over the Mersey, causing casualties and also over a north-eastern Scottish town where some casualties including people seriously injured were caused. The raiders visited the south-east coast and Midlands towns but no ser.ous damage or casualties are reported.

German planes ventured towards London last night receiving the most violent welcome so far given from the guns. Serious Fire Checked A bomb ■ started a serious fire in the City of London, but it was brought under control. Houses were destroyed and damaged in many residential districts and a number of persons were killed. Large fires were started along the Merseyside where commercial premises were damaged. The attacks on the home counties were heaviest to the south and west of London, but the damage was not extensive and the casualties were few.

Bombs demolished some houses in a south-east London district and rendered other uninhabitable. Another bomb wrecked a nurses’ home at a western suburban hospital. Two members, of the Auxiliary Fire Service were killed and two injured in fire lighting during the night-long Merseyside raid. The firemen were caught under the blazing debris of a wharchouse fire. New Technique Shown Waves of raiders adopted a new technique over some provincial districts dropping only incendiary crudc-oil bombs. Premises set on fire included three churches, a convent school and a garage and also many dwellings. Nine Hurricanes saved Liverpool