BLOWN TO PIECES

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21244, 15 October 1940, Page 5

BLOWN TO PIECES

NAZI RAIDER’S FATE INDISCRIMINATE BOMBING STREET MACHINE-GUNNED (Omclal Wireless) (Received Oct. 15, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 14 Swift punishment met an enemy bomber which dropped out of the clouds over a south coast town one evening recently and machinegunned civilians, says an Air Ministry news service. The firing was entirely indiscriminate. Nothing was in view of the pilot of the aircraft except civilians, shops and small houses. He was flying at a height of about 500 feet. After this attack the enemy turned and flew in the direction of the next seaside town, but some distance outside this second town was a searchlight post, and on the approach of the enemy the ground defences opened up with light anti-aircraft fir.!. The firing was immediately effective. The raider dived straight to the ground, and one of its bombs exploded on the crash and the aircraft was blown to pieces. Nothing recognisable of the crew was found. One tattered German Air Force pay-book and an identity disc were picked up from the wreckage.

MORE NAZI LIES BRITISH PLANE LOSSES CONFUSED PROPAGANDA (Official Wireless) Received Oct. 15, 11.40 a.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 14 While official Royal Air Force figures show that v 855 British machines have been lost since July 1, with 354 pilots safe, German propagandists are finding some difficulty in deciding the particular high figure which they themselves shall announce in reply. A Deutschlander broadcast, in a German home programme, replying on “well-informed German sources,” claims that 3950 British machines have been destroyed, while simultaneously German talks in Portuguese, giving as its own special source “German High Command communique figures,” gives the total as just over 2000 planes. Probably the Germans are confused in their recount by the fact that they themselves actually lost 2612 machines, brought down by British fighters, in the same period.

WAR WEAPONS WEEK RAISING HUGE SUMS DETERMINATION IN BRITAIN CAMPAIGN FOR VICTORY (Official Wireless) (Received Oct. 15, noon) RUGBY, Oct. 14 The British cities are competing in friendly rivalry this week, which has been called “War Weapons Week,” to provide by voluntary effort the cost of material essential to assist the armed forces to carry on the war. ' Manchester aims at raising £lO,000,000—the cost of a battleship—while of £8,000,000 aimed at by Birmingham £4,500,000 was contributed before the campaign actually opened. In performing the opening ceremony at Birmingham, Mrs Churchill said: “The devastation and ruin which have been caused by enemy bombs have aroused nothing but anger in our breasts at the ruthless methods which Nazi Germany is adopting. Underlying our sorrow and sympathy there is determination to fight, work and live for victory, and those who have suffered most are the ones most resolved. “Our determination to end German aggression for all time has been strengthened by the raids on London.”

CLAIMS BY ENEMY NAZI AND ITALIAN VERSIONS “REPRISALS” ON ENGLAND ATTACKS IN AFRICA (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Oct. 15, 11.25 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 14 A German communique says: Bombers continued their reprisal attacks on London, causing large fires. They also bombed Liverpool, the Midlands and the south of England. The enemy last night dropped bombs on northern and western Germany. The damage was slight and no military objectives were hit. An Italian communique says: Italian artillery repulsed British armoured cars which were attempting to attack south-east of Siai Barrani. Three British ships shelled Italian positions around Sidi Barrani, without causing damage. British planes attacked Porto Lado, hitting a Roman Catholic Church and other buildings. Thirty-four people were killed and twenty wounded.