AIR ASSAULTS ON LONDON

Evening Star, Issue 23688, 23 September 1940, Page 5

AIR ASSAULTS ON LONDON

HOT RECEPTION FOR INVADERS NO GREAT DAMAGE REPORTED Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, September 22. (Received September 23, at 10 a.m.) The “ blitzborabing ” of London entered its third week with unabated fury. Nocturnal blasting from guns and bombs, with the usual visitation shortly after nightfall, provided the now familiar scene of completely empty streets and a sky lit by flashes and heavy detonations. The raid ' began after a brief preliminary in which 60 or 70 raiders attempted to fly up the Thames Estuary. Some penetrated western and south-western suburbs and dropped bombs. Another batch of 50 Messerschmitts over the south-east coast turned tail without a fight on the appearance of Hurricanes. The raiders in London’s second raid seemed to come in from several directions. The bombing started fires, none of which survived an hour. It is believed that a raider was hit and exploded in raid-air over the western suburbs. An Air Ministry and Home Security communique states:—The attack made shortly before dark on Saturday evening in south-east England was not heavy. A few bombs were dropped in the south-west* outskirts of the London area and at a few places in Kent and Sussex. The damage caused was slight, and no casualties are reported. It is now known that a second enemy bomber was shot down by our fighters yesterday afternoon. Our fighters suffered no loss during the day. By night the enemy activity was somewhat more widespread than on the previous nights. Though London was again the principal objective, bombs were dropped in several parts of the capital, and once more the attack was the heaviest in the eastern and southern districts. A town in north-west England was also attacked. In these two areas houses were destroyed and damaged and fires started. Most of them were quickly brought under control, and it is largely due to the work of the fire services that the damage caused was not more serious. There have been a number of casualties, some fatal. In south-east England, outside the London area, a number of houses were destroyed by bombs and some casualties caused, one of which was fatal. Elsewhere little damage has beep reported. .-The.c.Germans inflicted, fewer .casualties in Friday night’s two four-hour raids than in previous nights. It is reported that a church hall and a factory in Central London were set on fire, and 10 fires were observed in a South London district. All were extinguished, and not a glimmer of light was left to guide the Germans when they returned after midnight. Eight bombs fell in residential districts in North London. Almost a whole street was wrecked in the southwest of London, and rescuers were still working at dawn when they extricated 10 people from the debris of one building. Two were killed and eight were seriously injured. Bombs in the East End this morning killed a number of people going to work. NO LARGE-SCALE ATTACKS (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 22. (Received September 23, at 1.25 p.m.) An Air Ministry and Home Security communique states: There was no enemy air activity on a large scale on Sunday morning, although isolated aircraft crossed the east and south coasts from time to time. Some of these penetrated inland over East Anglia. A few reached London. Bombs were dropped on country districts in East Anglia, Hampshire, Kent, on two towns in Sussex, and on north-west and south-east districts of London. A number of houses were hit, and some damaged. Damage was caused to gas and water mains. A small number of people have been reoorted killed and injured. One enemy bomber was shot down during the day. BERLIN Mid ROME COMMUNIQUES SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS CLAIMED BERLIN, September 22. (Received September 23, at 11.5 a.m.) A communique states: Revenge raids on Britain continued. London was again the chief objective. Many military objectives were bombed and big fires were started in the vicinity of the Royal Albert Docks and the West Iqdia Docks. We bombed various aerodromes, military camps, and harbours on the east and south coasts. The enemy again failed to penetrate German territroy, except for a few bombs dropped on the French and Belgian coasts. A U-boat sank British merchantmen totalling 61,300 tons. Other U-boats sank eight more totalling 35,100 tons. ROME, September 22. (Received September 23, at 11.5 a.m.) A communique states: Our bombing of military objectives at Mersa Matruh caused large fires. Enemy planes made night raids on Sidi Barrani, Tobruk, and Derna. -There were some casualties, but small damage was done. Our planes bombed the Alexandria naval base, hitting a ship. They also bombed an enemy convoy in the Red Sea, seriously damaging two transports. An Italian patrol raided (siolo, in Kenya. The enemy carried out various attacks in Somaliland.