MASS FORMATIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 September 1940, Page 5

MASS FORMATIONS

USED BY THE ENEMY IN DAYLIGHT

SCATTERED NIGHT RAIDS COMPARATIVE PARTICULARS OF LOSSES. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, September 1. The German Air Force in the weekend has made constant air attacks over Britain, using mass formation tactics in daylight, and numerous night raiders singly and in groups. At least 700 raiders were over - England in daylight raids yesterday. Large formations, after crossing the Kentish coast at a tremendous height, spread out in a fan over a wide area, attemptting to attack R.A.F. aerodromes in the home counties. No serious damage was inflicted, but there were some fatalities. Raiders also attacked industrial premises, killing and injuring a number of workers.

It is officially announced that attacks by raiders last night were directed mainly against industrial districts of the north-west and north-east of Eng-, land, and in a city in the north-west incendiary bombs caused a large number of fires, all of which, with the exception of two, which are under' control this morning have been extinguished. Explosive bombs did some damage, but the number of casualties is small in relation to the scale of the attack. Other parts attacked included an area of London, and some damage and casualties were reported. London has had a number of raid warnings in the weekend, and this morning there was a short alarm, recalling the first London siren of exactly a year ago after the announcement that Britain was at war with Germany. In fierce air battles great toll has been taken of the raiders, and yesterday the official total shot down was 85, with 37 British fighters lost but the plots of 25 safe. On Friday, when there was mass daylight raiding over the south-east and a series of raid warnings in London during the day and night, 62 German planes on the official count were snot down, ine bririsn losses were 25 planes, but 15 of the pilots were saved. On the official figures the enemy has lost well over 1000 planes this month. REPORTS DELAYED OPPORTUNITY FOR GOEBBELS. TO HUSH UP FACTS. LONDON. September 1. An American correspondent states from Berlin that the Germans are refusing to release any details till six hours and three-quarters after the allclear signal had started. This practice, he added, was commenced after the recent raids. It appeared that the object was to give Dr. Goebbels the opportunity to hush up the damage caused. Reports from Italian and neutral sources say that an electric power station and an aircraft factory were objectives damaged in recent raids.

The “’New York Times” says that Berlin’s underground system was out of action and that it is known that part of the service had to be suspended.

Such of the cable news on this page as is so headed has appeared in “The Times,” and is cabled to Australia and New Zealand by special permission. It should be understood that the opinions are not those of “The Tinies” unless expressly stated to be so.