NAZI RAIDERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 258, 1 November 1939, Page 7

NAZI RAIDERS

HOT RECEPTION FROM BRITISH PLANES FALSE ALARMS GIVEN IN LONDON [By Telegraph—Press Association- Copyright] LONDON, Oct. 30. There were air-raid warnings on the east coast of Great Britain this morning. The all clear signals were given a short time later. Many planes were heard passing over the town. Gunfire which appeared to be a long way out at sea was also heard. Air-raid warnings were also sounded in one or two districts of London today by mistake but the “all clear” signal was given immediately. Streets in the affected areas were cleared quickly and calmly. The authorities are investigating why and where the sirens were sounded in London. The false alarm in Westminster was heard for rffles. The staff of all Government departments proceeded to shelters. It was later officially stated that the sounding of air-raid sirens in central London was the result of police misinterpretating a message, and the “all clear” was given within a few minutes. Children Evacuated. Warnings sounded in three other towns in south-east England were shortly followed by the “all clear.” Three thousand children were evacuated from schools in orderly fashion. The planes were hidden by low clouds. Gunfire was heard in the Channel during the air-raid warnings. People in a north-easterly town going to business were astonished to see two planes flying low overhead. One opened machine-gun fire while the people watched from the streets. Air-raid wardens of the Ministry of Information ordered the personnel to take cover but a few journalists carried on their work. A German plane flying westwards was seen in Haddingtonshire. Three Royal Air Force fighters forced the raider to turn back to the North Sea. A plane appeared over the East Lothian coast, apparently seeking the Firth of Forth. Flying low at a terrific pace, it proceeded inland, where Royal Air Force planes chased it to sea. Townspeople watched the encounter from doorways. Air Duel Over Housetops. An air duel on the Scottish coast was fought over the housetops of Berwickshire town, while hundreds whose first intimation of the raider's approach was the roar of its engines, rushed from their homes to watch. A.R.P. workers had been cautioned and were standing up, but excited spectators disdained to take cover and watched the raider streak across the town into a burst of machine-gun fire from a British plane, which was promptly returned. The British plane swerved' into the German’s wake and dashed in pursuit, flames spurting from the chaser’s guns. As the planes passed from sight over the seafront the raider fled to sea, belching smoke and barely avoiding a cliff edge. The acting-Provost of East Lothian is protesting against failure to sound the sirens when a bomber was engaged and brought down on October 28.

BOMBERS ATTACK DESTROYERS ACTION SOUTH OF DOGGER BANK. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Oct. 30. The Admiralty announced thi morning that south of the Dogge Bank, one of our destroyer flotilla came into action with two Germai bombers. There were no casualties in, or dam age to, the destroyers, and it is no known whether the enemy sufferei damage. NORTHERN GERMANY R.A.F. RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHT ONE PLANE F AILS TO RETURN Received Oct. 31, 11.55 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 31. The Air Ministry announces thai the Royal Air Force made extensiv< reconnaissance flights over aero dromes in northern Germany yester day. Despite opposition, much valu able information was gained anc many photographs taken. By midnight one of our planes hac not returned to its base.