FIREWORKS DISPLAY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 April 1940, Page 5

FIREWORKS DISPLAY

REPULSE OF ENEMY AIR RAIDERS ATTACK ON SOUTH-EAST ENGLAND. FIGHTERS ROAR OUT TO SEA. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, April 21. A German air attack off the south-east coast, in the neighbourhood of the Thames estuary, started at 10 p.m. The heaviest firing since the outbreak of the war shook houses on the coast. - British fighters roared out to sea to engage the raiders. People rushed to the seafront to watch what was described as a great fireworks display. Searchlights shot up from many parts of the coast and gun flashes and searchlights lit up the whole district. The raiders were last seen heading north-west. No air raid warnings were sounded. Flares were dropped, lighting up the seafront. The firing faded after 20 minutes as the scene of battle moved away. OFF=COAST ACTIVITY CROWDS DRAWN INTO STREETS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.20 a.m.) RUGBY, April 21. Air activity last night in neighbourhood of the Thames Estuary, which was the subject of an Air Ministry statement in the early hours of this morning, is reported to have drawn crowds into the streets of coast towns nearby, while many persons are stated to have taken refuge in public shelters, though no air raid warning was sounded. For several hours the drone of aircraft could be heard, but the activity appeared to onlookers to be out to sea. Anti-aircraft gun fire was heard for some time. An Air Ministry statement said no attack on shipping had been reported.