ENEMY TACTICS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 September 1940, Page 5

ENEMY TACTICS

RAIDS ON SUNDAY NIGHT USE OF SCATTERED FORCES. RESIDENTIAL AREAS BOMBED. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, September 9. German raiders were over London against last night for nearly 10 hours. An official communique issued at 8 a.m. says: “Last night the enemy attack on London was renewed soon after darkness fell and was continued during the night. The enemy employed successive relays of aircraft which, operating independently, dropped bombs on a widespread area of London. ’ “At no time was an intensive attack delivered by a larger formation. The anti-aircraft defences were in continuous action against the enemy. “The most deliberate attack was again made on a Thames-side district, and here again a number of fires were caused. In other parts of London bombs caused fires, temporary interruptions of public services and considerable damage to private houses and to public and mercantile buildings.” Many raiders cruised over London, dropping incendiary bombs. Fires were started in the south-east of London, and in East London, where sortie fires from the previous night's raid were still smouldering, though under control. The A.R.P. organisations were at work everywhere controlling and extinguishing the fires, again working while bombs were dropping. Many observers comment on the terrific anti-aircraft barrage. It is impossible to give a full report of what happened, but a large proportion of the bombs dropped did no military damage. Any estimate of the casualties at the moment is impossible. However, in the central London area casualties were light, and so far as can be ascertained they were not heavy any-

where, largely due to the general use of the air-raid shelters and the absence of panic. It is known that many enemy planes were brought down. A London observer stated: “For the first two hours last night the strong anti-aircraft barrage impressed many people. Later things became too hot for wandering in the open so I took shelter. When I came out later I found many windows shattered by heavy high-explosive bombs. The Germans announced last night that they were using a new type of bomb. Certainly they were heavier than any previously used, but many fell miles from their objectives. I saw the results of some careful and accurate bombing, particularly with the object of disrupting the transport system, but I also saw where two hospitals were hit and many small private houses demolished. The bombing for the most part was indiscriminate.” TOLL OF BOMBERS ENEMY LOSSES OUT OF ALL PROPORTION. JUNE TO SEPTEMBER FIGURES. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. September 8. The official statistics show that from June 17 to September 6 1688 enemy aircraft of all types were destroyed round Britain. Of these, up to the end of August, 686 were heavy bombers and 408 ■ fighterbembers. Thus the German Josses have been out of all proportion to the British losses. The figures show that during the week which ended last Friday Germany was deprived of at least 800 trained airmen against 57 British pilots, for though 143 fighter machines were lost by the British 86 of the pilots were announced to be safe.