KENTISH COAST VISITED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVII, Issue 21508, 22 November 1939, Page 7

KENTISH COAST VISITED

Enemy ’Planes Chased To Sea No Bombs Dropped United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received November 21, 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, November 21. An Air Ministry communique in regard to a morning raid, stated that unidentified aircraft visited various points on the Kentish Coast, after which hostile aircraft crossed the Sussex Coast at a great height. They turned eastward near London and were chased to sea by fighters. No bombs were dropped. Air raid warnings were sounded in the south-east of England last night. An unidentified aeroplane, flying at a great height, was sighted off a south coast port. Anti-aircraft guns opened fire and shells burst around the aeroplane. from which emerged a long trailing stream of smoke. The aeroplane made off eastwards and spectators saw British fighters in pursuit. The same aeroplane was sighted over the Thames estuary, the south of Kent and Essex. When it appeared over south-east England and the outskirts of London, thousands of people rushed into the streets and watched the shellfire. Shrapnel fell in the streets. Eye witnesses describe the machine as similar to a Heinkel bomber. The aeroplane apparently escaped out to sea. Alarm in Orkneys People of the Orkneys, warned by gunfire, saw an enemy reconnaissance aeroplane ’over the Southern Isles. Sirens sounded soon afterwards, and pursuit aeroplanes drove the raider to sea. The German aeroplanes which flew over the Shetlands on November 17 dropped heavy bombs, as was indicated by a hole in a hillside, while two objects were seen falling into the sea. The Admiralty announces that this afternoon in the southern part of the North Sea German aircraft made an unsuccessful bombing attack on a British destroyer. German Version of Flights The official Berlin New Agency says that in - spite of most unfavourable weather the Air Force continued reconnaissance flights over England and France. The aircraft were absent up to eight hours in flights over Scapa Plow. Scotland, the South of England, the Channel and the cost of North France, returning with valuable material. Raid alarms were sounded in the North and South of England and fighters and anti-aircraft guns attacked our scouters without success, because the enemy defence is unable to reach the great heights of the German machines. The reconnaissances over France .encountered no resistance.