INTENSIVE BARRAGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 November 1940, Page 3

INTENSIVE BARRAGE

MET BY NAZI RAIDERS ATTEMPTING TO CROSS BRITISH COAST. MANY PLANES TURNED BACK. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, October 30. Raiders attempting to reach London last night stumbled on a new and intensive anti-aircraft barrage covering a popular route across the south-east coast. The barrage is reported to have been most effective. It engaged the planes for a considerable distance inland from the coast and many unloaded their bombs in fields and turned back. Observers recently have sighted strange types of bombers approaching the coast, possibly Italians, under the escort of large formations of Messerschmitts. The strangers quickly retreated when intercepted and have not succeeded in dropping a bomb on land. Strong forces of planes attempted to cross the South Coast today. R.A.F. fighters closed in and a brief battle followed, after which many planes were heard returning across the coast. DAMAGE IN LONDON. There was only one alarm in London this morning. A bomb directly hit a Catholic churchy on the outskirts of London last night. Everything, including vestments and the Sacrament, was destroyed. An incendiary bomb penetrated a cinema roof, falling near the screen, while a show was in progress. The staff extinguished the bomb while the audience remained in their seats. A bomb hit a block of flats. Fifty persons sheltering on the ground floor were unhurt, but uiose on the first floor were buried to the necks in debris and two were killed. German guns on the French coast shelled the Dover area today. AIR MINISTRY REPORT SEVEN ENEMY PLANES DESTROYED. v LONDON. October 30. Some details of the day's air fighting over Britain are contained in-an Air Ministry communique which states that reports received up to 5 p.m. show that seven enemy aircraft were destroyed today. Four of our fighters are missing. GERMAN COMMUNIQUE LONDON, October 30. A German communique says: “Our bombers attacked London, Portsmouth and elsewhere. R.A.F. raids over Belgium. Holland and the Reich caused no damage. Six adults and two children were killed when a farmhouse was destroyed. Houses wore destroyed in other localities and several were killed and wounded."