MASS AIR RAIDS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20094, 14 November 1939, Page 7

MASS AIR RAIDS

BRITISH COAST TOWNS POSSIBLE GERMAN MOVE PRISONERS' ADMISSIONS RECONNOITRING FLIGHTS LONDON, Nov. 1. On unimpeachable authority it has been learned that large-scale German air raids must be expected at any time on south-eastern Scotland and north-eastern England. All steps to frustrate the raids have been taken by the British authorities. Information obtained from German airmen taken prisoner after the recent raids on the Scottish and English coasts have proved that those raids were mainly for reconnoitring, and that no serious effort was made to carry out bombings. Coast Photographed and Mapped Approximately 14 German squadrons conducted the operations along the coastline, and they photographed and mapped tricky parts of the coast.

Some of the photographs, with notes, have been found on the captured airmen, who, under questioning, have admitted that all past activity has been only a prelude to a major raid, probably in daylight. The Intelligence Department has also gained information.

A huge mass of aeroplanes, variously estimated at upward of ICHJO, may be employed. Where Raiders May Concentrate

According to the prisoners, the raiders will concentrate on nnvai centres, shipbuilding yards, and munitions plants, but for the present will carefully avoid the south-east and southern English coastal areas, where other bases are situated. Reports from Amsterdam that Germany has 40,000 machines are described as fantastic, but it is admitted that she has enough to spare 1000 for a series of day-long raids of the nature disclosed by tile prisoners.

Despite the threat of a German air offensive, women and children tvho were evacuated from danger areas on the outbreak of the war, are drifting back to their homes in such numbers that the authorities have been forced to take a census to discover how many are remaining in the safe areas.

At least 195,000 of those who let have returned to their homes. This figure is not complete, and perhaps could be doubled.

Figures for six areas show that 1(5.5 per cent had returned to Ur cities, wnile from one area —Chester — 39 per cent had gone home.