LIVELY DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 222, 18 September 1940, Page 7

LIVELY DAY.

RAID WARNINGS. Londoners Heartened ByPremier's Tribute. British Official Wlrele*. (Reed. 2.30 p.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 17. Soon after 8 p.m., Londoners had jtho fifth air raid warning of the day, and heavy anti-aircraft gunfire was soon heard in central London, as well as in suburban districts. Citizens, heartened by Mr. Churchill's tribute to their courage, agaiu settled down to a "Hitler night" with the adaptability for which the Cockney spirit is renowned. Every variety of communal amusement is now resorted !to by neighbours sheltering together, I while "they arc overhead," and it is difficult for an onlooker to realise. j In the words of a neutral observer, i the Germans fondly imagine that they. are terrorising these patient, cheerful, undaunted people. An Air Ministry and Ministry of j Home Security communique, issued at 11 p.m., states: "Enemy activity was on a small scale on Tuesday until early ! afternoon. Although bombs were dropped in widely scattered districts in south-east England, there was little | damage, but a/small number of people j were killed or injured in south-west , London. I "At Portsmouth a church and several j houses wee hit and a small nun/ocr of people injured. j "At about 3.15 p.ir. several large waves ,of enemy aircraft crusse.. the coast of Kent, flying in the direction of Loudon, and a large force was dispatched to intercept the enemy. Xo major battle took place, but contact was made over Kent, and the enemy promptly scattered and did not penetrate further inland than Maidstone. "Present reports show that so far, before the enemy reached safety, our fighters had destroyed five and two were shot down by anti-aircraft fire. It is now known that only 11 British pilots were lost in Sunday's air battles." SUNDAY'S AIR TOLL. j DAY AND NIGHT RECORDS. British Official Wlrelesis. | (Reed. 1.30 p.m.) RUGBY. Sept. 17.' It is now officially stated by tlie Air Ministry that during the night of Sunday-Monday four enemy bombers were shot down by anti-aircraft guns. A total of six enemy aircraft were therefore destroyed during that night, following the daylight battle in which the German Air Force lost 187 bombers and fighters. This night total, like the day total preceding it, made a record, being the largest number of enemy air- j craft brought down during the hours of darkness since intensive operations by i the German Air Force against south-east! England and London began. AID FOR BRITAIN. AMERICAN RED CROSS. (Reed. 2 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Sept. 17. I The Red Cross has spent almost 5,000,000 dollars in relief for Britain, mostly since the beginning of September. The sum of 20,000 dollars has just been cabled to assist in establishing ten refugee cottages for poor children. Equipment is being assembled to establish 10,000 convalescent beds in English private homes. Since July the Red Cross has sent 102 relief shipments by British ships and two by Clipper. Xone has been lost. POLISH SQUADRONS. ATR MINISTER'S MESSAGE. ———^—— | (Reed. 2 p.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 17.' The Secretary for Air. Sir Archibald! Sinclair, liar! sent the following ines>a«e! to General Sikorski, Polish IJrinie Minis- i ter: "Please convey my congratulations to numbers 302 aiid 303 squadrons on their magnificent and outstanding sue cess in yesterday's fightiug and also to those of your airmen who took part so splendidly in the attack oa Calais.'*