FIVE ALARMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 221, 17 September 1940, Page 8

FIVE ALARMS.

LONDON RAIDS. Enemy Came Over In Small Groups On Monday. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Reed. 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 16. London had three short air raid alarms this morning, and a fourth at 2.15 p.m. lasted until 6.3 p.m. The sirens sounded for the fifth time at 845 p.m. Most central Londoners perceived little evidence of reasons for the succession of warnings, although the early part of the fourth period was sparsely punctuated- by the noise of bombs, antiaircraft guns and machine-guns. Two heavy calibre and a number of incendiary bombs fell near a shopping centre in the London area. There were np casualties. High explosive bombs were also dropped •in another district. A church in the south-eastern district received a direct hit last night. A large crater was caused inside the church, which was extensively damaged. During the fourth warning raiders flew singly from all directions to and from London, taking full advantage of the clouds. Eleven bombs fell within a radius of 300 yards in a residential district. The majority exploded in the soft earth of gardens. • Anti-aircraft guns came into action in central London immediately after the fifth- alarm. 'Planes were soon heard, after which the barrage was intensified. The alarm, was still in force at midnight. An Air Ministry and Ministry of Home Security communique states: There has been little enemy activity during the day. About 8 a.m. to-day a force of enemy aircraft crossed the coast without encountering our fighters. Later in tlie <Tay enemy aircraft singly or in small numbers crossed the coast at several points. A few bombs were dropped at various parts of the country, but the damage reported is slight, and the number of casualties very small." The Berlin radio claimed that the Germans bombed Belfast and other coastal towns in Northern Ireland.

I CUT NAZI CABLE. NANTES HEAVILY FINED. (Reed. 1.30..p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 16. $The Times" correspondent on the French frontier says the Germans have fined Nantes 5,000,000 francs for cutting for .the. second, time the German Army cable. The fine for, the first sabotage was- 2,000;OOO ifrahcfc -■ '1 . The Mayor has appealed to the citizens" to avoid such expensive demonstrations •which have already cost 100. francs per capita. i