LATE NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 24227, 10 September 1940, Page 7

LATE NEWS

NAZIS’ RACE AGAINST WEATHER (Received September 10, 1 a.m.) LONDON, September 8. A high-placed authority told the Associated Press that the present “reprisal” attacks on London appear to be a diversion from the German main purpose, namely, the endeavour to cause Britain to use up her fighters, thereby paving the way for unlimited bombing attacks as a prelude to an invasion. German bombing appears to be limited by the fighter strength available for escort. Therefore, if the necessity to send heavy fighter escorts is reduced, Germany will be able greatly to increase the number of bombers. If this hypothesis is correct, it explains why, during Saturday’s attacks against London, when nearly 700 German planes are estimated to have visited Britain, activity outside the capital was comparatively slight. In this endeavour to subjugate the British fighter strength, the Germans counted on suffering considerable losses, but they did not expect to face such stubborn resistance, which well-informed circles believe will be more stubborn as the month proceeds. It is pointed out that September is likely to be a very critical month, in which fiitler, engaging in a race against the English weather, hopes to gain air superiority in a week or so. Air operations will reach a crescendo, but the top note has not yet been reached. Answering queries why formations of bombers on Saturday were able to reach central London, the high-placed official emphasized that it was not possible for fighters to prevent a proportion penetrating the defences. German night-bombing so far has been largely indiscriminate, though apparently they are endeavouring to copy the British attacks against rail communications. SEVERAL NEW FIRES IN LONDON AREA High explosive and incendiary bombs continue to be dropped on London. Bombs were scattered in East London, again hitting the area affected on Saturday. In another district showers ,of burning debris were flung towards the sky. Several new fires were caused in the London area. The raiders were sometimes very low, cruising in wide circles round the London area in addition to traversing it. There was simply

no respite from the loud explosions and reverberant blasts for hour upon hour. Every now and again bombs crashed more frequently and more loudly. A civil defence official said the raiders were not operating in mass formations, but their intention was still obviously “to wipe us off the map. Our services are functioning marvellously under stress.” The raiders machine-gunned a Spitfire pilot who had baled out over London.

The pilot landed unconscious on a barrage balloon which had to be hauled down. He died en route to hospital. Raiders were also over two northeastern towns as well as the Midlands.

A report from Berlin says it is authoritatively stated that 35 of Germany’s biggest bombers departed for London shortly before midnight carrying the heaviest calibre bombs.

CRUSHING BLOW ATTEMPTED BY GERMANS The Times in an editorial says that many of Saturday’s casualties were caused by attacks falling on men of the services. The enemy attempted a crushing blow to reassure Germans and strengthen the world’s rapidly waning estimate of his power fatally to injure England. The raid, however, did not impair the Royal Air Force’s strength, it did n«t seriously damage the national war effort and emphatically did not shake the civilian morale, which is a large part of the enemy’s purpose. The verdict of the victims was that the experience was a mere incident in the process of winning mastery over a ruthless enemy.