ENEMY HEAVILY ENGAGED

Southland Times, Issue 24228, 11 September 1940, Page 5

ENEMY HEAVILY ENGAGED

BRITISH FIGHTERS READY CANADIANS PROVIDE GREAT BATTLE (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received September 10, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 9. Between 5 and 6 p.m. on Monday after a morning of calm, Germany launched another 350 aircraft at southeast England and the London area. Successive waves of bombers and fighters crossed the coast between the North Foreland and Hastings. VZherever they turned they were engaged by Royal Air Force Fighters, new squadrons taking up the attack from point to point. As the enemy crossed the Kentish coast British fighters were ready. They fought them over the rolling woods of Sussex, across the hopfields of Kent, above the commons and downs of Surrey and over the streets and houses of London. They pursued them back over the English Channel on their return journey. Anti-aircraft guns also helped to harass the enemy. The evening objectives apparently included Royal Air Force stations in southern England and various industrial targets as well as London. Many of the enemy, however, were driven back before reaching any of the objectives inside London. . The Canadian Squadron of the Royal Air Force fought probably their greatest battle over the streets of London itself. They met the enemy on the south side of the Thames, chased them up-river from London Bridge to Hammersmith and destroyed three Dornier bombers, three Messerschmitt 110 fighter bombers and four Messerschmitt 109’s.

FORMATION BROKEN Thirty bombers escorted by waves of fighters crossed the south-east coast shortly after 5 p.m. and headed for London. Anti-aircraft guns put up a fierce barrage, as a result of which a bomber formation broke and turned seawards, rapidly losing height. Several raiders approached over a south-west suburb, pursued by Vickers Spitfires. The raiders dropped several bombs, one of which completely demolished a store. Anti-aircraft guns hit a big bomber, which spiralled to the ground. The Polish fighter squadron shot down 31 planes in air battles on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The Secretary for Air, Sir Archibald Sinclair, sent a message of congratulations to the Polish Prime Minister, General Wladyslaw Sikorski. In the raid on London between 5 and 6 p.m. yesterday a Polish sergeantpilot shot down a Heinkel and a Messerschmitt single-handed, while one Spitfire squadron destroyed six Messerschmitts and probably a Heinkel. Preliminary reports show that some raicfers penetrated north of the river, where only minor damage was caused. Scattered bombs were dropped-in south London, many of them in the outskirts, but again no serious damage resulted. The enemy shelled Dover in the evening. At dusk the Royal Air Force hammered fhe German gun-emplace-

ments on the French coast. • The concussion of bombs falling on the gun positions shook the ground on the British side of the Channel. It was one of the most violent raids against Germanheld Channel ports. After seven hours heavy bombs were still falling in the central London area. Two central London hospitals were directly hit. Planes were continually heard overhead. With the exception of the Air Raid Precautions workers the people of London again spent just over nine hours in their shelters during the night attacks. The civil defence workers were again at their posts and, though weary through lack of sleep, carried on with an efficiency that was a source of pride and wonder to the rest of the population. They attacked the seat of numerous fires with grim determination, even while the raiders droned overhead. The Germans, for the first hour or two on Saturday night, seemed to be making for certain objectives, but as the night went on the bombing became more indiscriminate and by the end of the night bombs were being dropped anywhere in the London area. On Sunday night the bombing was even wilder and last night no military target was made the objective of a concerted attack. The proportion of bombs dropped on military objectives was very small.

There was little activity over the rest of England last night, although. some bombs were dropped in the north-west and in rural districts in the south-west, causing some damage. CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL HIT A bomb hit a children’s hospital. Six nurses were killed. Another hit a maternity hospital. A high explosive bomb in a south-east London district made a huge crater in a roadway, hurling into the air one of several stationary tramcars. The “all clear” signal was given after nine hours and six minutes.

German long-range batteries resumed the shelling of the Dover area early in the morning. British guns immediately retaliated, returning salvo for salvo.

Reports of the damage caused in the attacks on London on Sunday night are not yet complere, states an Air Ministry and Ministry of Home Security communique, but some particulars can now be given. The attacks were severe and continued throughout the hours of darkness. Bombing was widespread over the London area and, for the most part, was indiscriminate. The damage, which was heavy, comprised many targets of a non-military character, including three hospitals and two museums. The number of casualties cannot at present be assessed, though, from the information available, it is not expected that the numbers will exceed Saturday’s figures. The casualties given for the attacks on that day are now found to be rather lower than announced. According to present information, 306 were killed and 1337 seriously injured.

DOCKS BOMBARDED The docks on both.sides of the river were again subjected to heavy and repeated bombardment with high explosive and incendiary bombs. A number of fires broke out. Many of these fires have been extinguished and all the remainder are now well in hand. London once again has been the main objective of the enemy and its citizens have met the blind savagery of these latest night attacks with admirable courage and resource. More than 50 persons were killed when an aerial torpedo demolished an East London block of flats. Rescue parties extricated 20 bodies.