MORE AIR RAIDS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21243, 14 October 1940, Page 7

MORE AIR RAIDS

LONDONERS THRILLED ATTACKERS REPULSED CASUALTIES AND DAMAGE (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Oct. 14. 11.25 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 13 Thousands of people, lining London streets, saw fighters repulse several attacks on the Metropolis today, and were thrilled by the spectacle of a solitary Spitfire swooping on nine German fighter bombers which were attacking from the west. The fighter dived from 5000 feet on to the Germans, who scattered. Heavy gunfire and the explosions of bombs were heard in the evening. Seven people are known to have been killed and a number seriously injured when a bomb hit an underground station yesterday. London had six “Alert” signals yesterday. The last ended early today, affording those in the shelters many hours’ sleep. A bomb which fell in a London square killed five people and a number was sent to hospital. Another bomb falling in a street fractured water and gas mains and caused a fire, which was quickly extinguished. Members of the air raid squads took 200 people from a nearby public shelter to other shelters. Bombs and Explosions Five explosions in a London dis- , trict demolished a public-house, in 1 ' which there were casualties, and surrounding houses, and also partly de- j * molished a block of luxury flats, ! * where members of the air raid i : squads are still digging in the debris ! 5 for possible casualties. A bomb which fell on a London ; ‘ County Council housing estate demol- i ] ished six houses and damaged others. ! The occupants of all were safe in j shelters. A searchlight beam caused ai ' bomber over the south-east coast to ! twist, turn and dive until it struck a 1 balloon barrage cable before crashing into the sea. British and Nazi Losses ■ Despite the increased German use « of fighters as light bombers, with the , object of reducing the heavy losses ! ! which they have been suffering in i ] the attacks on Britain, the German 1 , aircraft losses in battles over Britain < during the week ending midnight on ( j October 12, it has been confirmed, , ( were substantially higher than the ; British losses, while the ratio of I , pilots and crew losses are estimated \ I to have been at least eight to one in j < j the British favour. ■ Sixty-six German machines were J - , brought down during this period. The j ( ■ Royal Air Force lost 43 aircraft, but ! ] j the pilots of 26 of these were saved, i ; 1 Crashed Into Sea j < An enemy heavy bomber fouled a > I balloon cable on the east coast last | 1 j night and crashed into the sea. I Nazis’ Changed Tactics j j A closer approximation of Royal | < ! Air Force losses of aircraft to those j ( 1 inflicted on the enemy is a feature j ( ! of the past week’s air battles, which 1 I is commented upon in the Sunday Press. Even in this period, however, the Royal Air Force enforced losses nearly twice as great as it suffered. The Germans appear to have, for the present, abandoned the tactics which brought such heavy destruction J upon them and for the most part have confined their daylight attacks , to tip-and-run-raids by converted j fighters, carrying relatively small , bomb loads. ,

AALAND ISLANDS

AGREEMENT SIGNED (United ness Asn.—nee. Tel. Copyright) MOSCOW, Oct. 12 | Russia and Finland on Friday i signed an agreement for the demili- j tarisation of the Aaland Islands. The i agreement operates immediately. j A preamble states that Russia and j Finland are desirous of strengthening j their respective security and the , peace of the Baltic Sea. Russia desires the right to maintain a consulate on the islands to supervise the observance of the agreement. The armed British merchantman Starling arrived at Cadiz after an attack by an unidentified plane. Four members of the crew were killed and seven injured. The ship was damaged.