AIR RAID OVER SCOTLAND

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 76, 18 October 1939, Page 5

AIR RAID OVER SCOTLAND

Firth of Forth Bombed

WARSHIPS' vmitliw ESCAPE A dozen enemy bombers raided units of the British Fleet lying at anchor in the Firtli of Forth, yesterday, and in a spectacular fight with British fighters lost four of their complement. Although several ships had narrow escapes, all are reported to be ready for sea, though a number of casualties have been notified as a result of splinters. The bombers arrived in the afternoon, and thoir arrival was the signal for all the shore batteries to go into action at once. The fighters at once took the air and passengers in two trains which proceeded across the famous Firth bridge had a first class view of the fight which followed.

The Admiralty announce that a large number of bombs were dropped one of which glanced bow of the cruiser Southampton and sank the Admiral's barge and a pinnace alongside. Bombs fell near the Edinburgh. Two bombs v ere also dropped near the Iron Duke. The raid lasted two hours and resulted in the British fighters gaining the upper hand and chasing the raiders out to sea. All the British planes returned, one being slightly damaged. An eye witness reports that there were no signs of panic amongst the civilian population the bulk of whom were interested spectators.

In the House of Commons yesterdaj% Mr Winston Churchill said that the circumstances in which the Royal Oak was torpedoed, showed that the submarine responsible showed the greatest skill and daring. The battleship Avas anchored at the time in Seapa Flow base. The raider apparently ilred three or four torpedoes on end, all ol: which struck home and the battleship heeled over and sank with approximately 800 members of the crew. All measures had since been taken to strengthen the harbour defences, and an enquiry had been instituted.