WAVES OF ATTACK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 October 1940, Page 5

WAVES OF ATTACK

ON BRITISH SOUTH-EAST COAST ALL BROKEN AND REPULSED. SOME DAMAGE AND CASUALTIES IN COAST TOWNS. (British Offiicial Wireless.) RUGBY, October 5. The news agencies report an attack by the German air force in waves over tne souin-east coast today. The bombers are said to have been heavily escorted by fighters. London has had two alerts since daylight but they have been of short duration. During one it is reported that a few German aircraft which had penetrated the outer defences were seen over the capital. Figures issued by the Air Ministry showed that 23 enemy aircraft were destroyed today. Nine British aircraft are missing but seven of the pilots are safe. A communique by the Ministry of Home Security states: ‘'During today the enemy made a number of attacks over the Kent and Sussex coast by forces of several squadrons. All were broken up and repulsed by our defences before they developed seriously. .Reports received up to 5 p.m. show that bombs had been dropped on a number of coast towns, and a few also in the London area. “Very little damage has been done, but a number of houses were demolished at Hastings, which was twice attacked, and in the Medway area. In all the attacks the number of casualties was very small, though some were fatal.”