RAIDS ON BRITAIN

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21192, 15 August 1940, Page 7

RAIDS ON BRITAIN

DAMAGE IN VILLAGE HIGH EXPLOSIVES DROPPED {United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Aug. 15, 9 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 14 A raider on the south-east of England dropped eight high explosives on a village. One blew out the front of a baker’s shop, another fell on the British Legion Club, a third fell on the roof of a garage, and a fourth burst a watermain. The remainder fell in fields and gardens. There was no serious damage anywhere. Fell Like Burning Torches The Berlin radio states: Our airmen today alarmed the entire Channel coast with attacks, the British pursuit planes each moment falling like burning torches. Over 20 British planes were shot down over Dover. We lost five planes. Nine balloons were destroyed near Dover. The German High Command repeats the news agency claim to have destroyed 132 planes. It adds that German air squadrons yesterday effectively bombed part of the installations of the quay at Wallsend, Hartlepool, Bournemouth and Plymouth, armament works at Exeter and Bristol, and big tank camps at North Gillingham. We sank two patrol boats and two merchantmen totalling 15,000 tons. Further bombs were dropped on aerodromes at Eastchurch, Detling and Farnborough, destroying numerous hangars, shelters, oil depots and shipyards, also several grounded planes. We destroyed 74 planes during the air combats. A submarine reports sinking, 41,611 tons of shipping, including an 11,000ton British auxiliary cruiser. Portions of a German submarine Flotilla encountered in 'the North Sea several British destroyers which withdrew after brief fighting. Number of Planes Lost It is authoritatively explained that the number of German planes probably destroyed or seriously damaged in the recent air battles, although not claimed officially, actually exceeds the number listed as destroyed in the official communique from the Air Ministry.