GERMAN FLIERS PAY HEAVILY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 248, 17 September 1940, Page 7

GERMAN FLIERS PAY HEAVILY

RECORD PLANE LOSSES

DESTRUCTION ON SUNDAY

SPLENDID GROUND DEFENCE

(United Press Association.-—Copyright.—-Bee. 10 a.m

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, Sept: 16. The German air attacks on Britain have proved extremely expensive, and with each new assault have demonstrated the superiority of the R.A.F. .and the rapidly-growing efficacy of the British ground defences.

Since the beginning of the war 2170 enemy planes have been destroyed over Britain. In the same period 553 British aircraft have been lost over Britain, but 259 of the pilots of the latter have been saved.

It is officially stated that. 185 enemy aircraft were destroyed yesterday, seven of them by anti-aircraft guns and the remainder by fighters, 131 being bombers. Five of our fighters previously.reported missing have now returned to their bases, thus making yesterday’s losses 25 fighter aircraft, twelve of the pilots being safe.

i Yesterday’s destruction of enemy aircraft represents the heaviest toll the German force has paid on any one day since the Battle for Britain opened. The previous highest total was 181 exactly a month earlier, on August 15.

FRANTIC NAZI LIES.

An instructive commentary on the air fighting of the week-cud is found in the German Press and wireless reports which, as the Daily Telegraph says, have burst into frantic tales of the destruction of London and the panic of Londoners. It is clear, adds the Telegraph, that desperate efforts of propaganda arc necessary to keep up the spirit •of the German people. This, as usual, has thrown all restraint to the winds, and the old familiar and completely unfounded tales of the flight of the Court and Government and the collapse of the civilian morale are given currency. One of these reports says the roads out of London are blocked with panicstricken refugees.

There is no particle of truth in this report. London life goes on, and the difficulties caused by the bombings are being surmounted with surprisingly little apparent interference. Even while air raid warnings are in force there is little noticeable diminution in the rush of London street traffic.

The Telegraph adds that fact—not lies—will decide the war, and we have a right to be proud of the success of London’s defence, and the grim and gay temper of her people. SCATTERED RAIDS.

An official report states that: Yesterday afternoon raiders bombed several points in and round the London area and many in the south-east of England, causing small flies and damaging houses and industrial and municipal buildings in Eastern and North-Eastern London. The casualties were not numerous. , , A heavy bomb hit one of London s oldest hospitals, completely wrecking the medical block and injuring a medical officer, but missed wards on either side. The patients had been removed to the basement earlier. When Buckingham Palace was hit for the third time on Sunday one bomb, fell on the Queen’s private apartments, tearing a hole through the c.eiling of the Tapestry Room, which Her Majesty uses as a _ drawing-room, on the first floor, hut it did not explode, nor did a second bomb which fell on the palace lawns. Incendiary bombs also fell on the lawns and some of them started small fires which were quickly got under control by the palace air-raid precautions staff and the police. The Queen was not in residence at the time, and the skeleton staff was in the basement shelters. The Governor of Newfoundland has cabled to the King congratulating Their Majesties and members of the Roval Family on their miraculous escape from the bombing attacks on Buckingham Palace. SUNDAY NIGHT’S RAIDS.

Details of Sunday night’s enemy raid on London form the substance of an Air Ministry and Ministry of Home Security communique. Reports so far received show that the number ot casualties in the attacks on London were a little greater than on recent nights, but much less than in the first attacks on the capital. Outside London the casualties were very lew, but some were fatal. Xt is now known thfit "two enemy bombers were shot down by our fighters during iLe night This includes the one already announced. The attacks were continued at night by a succession of small groups or bombers. These attacks were directed mainly against the London-area and the surrounding districts. A smaller number were also made in other parts of the country. , The attacks on London were spread over a wide area. Houses, commercial premises and other buildings damaged ; also three hospita s. . A church in a south-eastern district received a direct hit last night. There is a large crater inside the church, which was extensively damaged. “WATER BUSES.” OPERATION ON THAMES. (British Official Wireless.) (Rcc. 11.40 a.m.) llUGßWpept. 16A service of “water buses on t c Thames has been introduced ~ iast few days to relieve the cor J? . of the other transport services th g temporary disorganisation on routes as a result of enemy bom gilt has proved highly popular an been accelerated as the river craft engaged has been mcr FUNDS FOR PLANES. PALESTINE AND TRANSJORDAN, (British Official Wireless:) (Rec. 11.40 a.m.) RUGBY, .Sept 16. The Secretary to the (,. Lloyd) has asked the HigH warlT1 _ sioner for Palestine to convey thevvarm est thanks of the Governmen t splendid contribution of £28,00 Palestine and Transjordan towards the determination of the people of these T egl , 0 PA S Colonial port the common cause is, t^s Secretary added, most cncouragi g-