GREAT AIR BARRAGE

Evening Star, Issue 23680, 13 September 1940, Page 7

GREAT AIR BARRAGE

CITY SHAKEN BY NOISE CHEERING SOUND TO POPULATION Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, September 12. (Received September 13, at 8 a.m.) Bombs were rained on a section of London during the second raid to-day. Apparently when our fighters headed the bombers off from the centre of London they unloosed their loads indiscriminately. The battle raged from the coast to the Thames Estuary and back again. Darkness enabled fresh forces of invaders to penetrate the London area, which, soon reverberated with the sound of gunfire and exploding bombs. The Germans opened the attack about 3 p.m., and within a few minutes two formations totalling 275 bombers and fighters crossed the coast. The bulk of the raiders immediately headed for London, apparently making for the docks, but only a small portion got through. The rest were scattered, and fled back across the Channel after jettisoning their bombs, most of which fell in the Surrey and Sussex woods. Seven raiders at one time were ringed by exploding shells. The noise shook London, but it was the almost cheerful noise of a great city fighting back. Millions of tired but greatly-cheered Londoners have now been listening for hours to the most amazing anti-air-craft barrage. Sleep has become impossible in all but deep shelters. Shrapnel is incessantly raining on the streets and buildings almost throughout London. Nobody now doubts that the Hun has met more than he bargained for on his fifth night of murdering. Never has such a wall of steel been flung up m history. The Germans appear to be finding it most difficult to penetrate the barrage.

Early in the morning they seemed to be using single fast machines, which were, coming over at 10-minute intervale in an effort to reach central London, hut all raced back when they met a withering fire. The raiders became more active as the night wore on, and the bombs seemed as numerous as the guns. The Polish squadron was again in the forefront of Wednesday afternoon’s attack, in which 89 raiders were shot down. 0! these 43 were bombers, the Pole* destroying seven bombers and seven fighters. We lost 24 planes, but the pilots of seven are safe. High explosive and incendiary bombs started fires and hit many buildings, including two, hospitals and some small factories. . A marked feature oh the raid was the number of. incendiaries which A.R.P. wardens extinguished before doing any harm. The number of persons killed or injured is probably less than any in the previous four nightm Outside the London area enemy activity, although widespread, was relatively ineffective. RELIEF OF DISTRESS LORD MAYOR OPENS FUND (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 12. {Received September 13, at 9.30 a.m.) To alleviate the distress caused by •the indiscriminate bombing of London, the Lord Mayor is appealing for help and has opened a Mansion House Fund, to which the King has sent £I,OOO, the Queen £SOO, Queen Mary £3OO, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester £250, and the Duke and Duchess of Kdnt £2OO. Other large gifts have been promised, including a substantial donation from the American Ambassador from funds under his control and from the London County Council. NEW ZEALAND PILOTS IN ACTION LARGE FORMATION OF BOMBERS ATTACKED LONDON, September 12. '(Received September 13, at 10.55 a.m.) The Air Ministry stated that New Zealand pilots participated when two squadrons of Hurricanes yesterday ferociously attacked a formation of 150 bombers bound for London escorted by fighters. These squadrons sent down 18 raiders and probably others. NEW METHODS OF PREDICTION SUCCESSFUL INNOVATION LONDON, September 12. (Received September 13, at noon.) The sirens sounded in London for the first time to-day at 4.39 p.m. Planes were heard over the City, but there was no gunfire, and the “ All clear ” was sounded at 5.42. ,The sirens sounded for the second time in London at 9.17. It is authoritatively stated that last night’s anti-aircraft fire (in the form of a barrage) was based on new methods of prediction. The innovation was undoubtedly successful, and the same kind of defence is likely to continue. It is hoped to improve on the methods with continued practice.