BRITISH PATROLS OVER HELIGOLAND

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVII, Issue 21528, 15 December 1939, Page 7

BRITISH PATROLS OVER HELIGOLAND

Effort To Stop Mine Sowing United Press Association —By Electric Telftgraph —Copvrtpht LONDON, December 13. The Air Ministry states that last night security patrols over the Islands of Sylt, Borkum and Norderney in order to interrupt the activity of minelaying aircraft operations, were successfully performed, in spite of considerable anti-aircraft opposition. It is understood the patrols began a week ago and are maintained throughout the night and during other periods favourable to minelaying from the air. The Germans admit the flight, b *■ claim that the British were looking for the liner Bremen.

The Air Ministry reply to this statement is that the Royal Air Force "had other fish to fry." A Berlin conmmunique states that British aeroplanes raided Heligoland Bight during the night. Anti-aircraft fire from the northern islands, also from German battleships, prevented the raiders from reaching the North Sea coast. Two raiders over the >cottish east coast were driven off before the fighters contacted them. The raiders did not cross the coast. An air-raid alarm over south-east France this morning lasted 45 minutes. Dorniers’ Attacked The Air Ministry announced that two coastal command 'planes yesterday attacked two Dornier flying-boats over the North Sea. The enemy reargunners were hit and the Dorniers damaged by machine-gun fire before disappearing in the clouds.