RAIDERS REPELLED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 August 1939, Page 5

RAIDERS REPELLED

RESULTS (II- THE BRITISH AIR EXERCISES LOW-FLYING ATTACKS PREVENTED. THE BLACKOUT TEST. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, August 12. An official account of the air exercises states that 115 raids were made on the souther.n area of '■Westland." including London, last night. The majority of these were intercepted by lighters or engaged by the anti-aircraft guns. "There have been no large-scale attacks on London since dawn.” it is stated. “The balloon barrage is being flown at operational heights, and thus low-flying attacks are being prevented. Bombers are flying high when they approach London and are good targets for the heavy anti-aircraft artillery.” Reports on last night's great blackout of 28 counties indicate that the measures taken were largely successful. Defects revealed were of a character easily remediable under war conditions. Arrangements are being made for another big black-out early in September after the holiday season. Several schemes embracing smaller areas have already been drawn up. Practice to every branch of civilian defence will be given. Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding summed up the result of the air raids on London by stating that the progress was satisfactory. He considered that any hostile air attack on Britain would soon be brought to a standstill.