AIR ATTACKS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20957, 9 November 1939, Page 7

AIR ATTACKS

STRIKING VICTORIES RAIDERS DRIVEN OFF SUCCESS OF ALLIES (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrltffct) LONDON, Nov. 8 Allied air squadrons have gained striking victories in combats over sea and land in the last two days. German aeroplanes were very active over the North Sea all day yesterday, but their raids were failures. Details have been released in Paris of three separate air fights on Monday. Nine French chasers engaged 27 Messerschmitts and the majority of the Germans were brought down. The French then sighted another patrol of nine Messerschmitts over the French lines and pursued them as far as Mersig, shooting down two. All the French machines returned to their base safely, although some of them were slightly damaged by gunfire. Four other French chasers attacked a formation of nine Messerschmitts, shooting down two. Goering: Says: “ I Am Humane ” A message from Berlin says that Field-Marshal Goering, when asked why he had not launched more aerial attacks on British harbours, replied: “ I am humane.” He added: “You should not laugh. I am serious. The general situation is exceedingly favourable to Germany. Of course, we lose an aeroplane or two occasionally, but if the French are shooting down as many as they say, they are not our aeroplanes.” ATTACKS REPULSED GERMANY’S CLAIM NINE PLANES BROUGHT DOWN (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrlr&t) (Received Nov. 9, 11 a.m.) PARIS, Nov. 8 A French communique states: “We repulsed three attacks near the Luxembourg frontier and fourteen east of that district and near Onrenthal.” A communique from Berlin states: “There were three more lively artillery fire reconnaissances on the West Front yesterday. A British plane was brought down near the mouth of the Wupper, a French one near Volklingne, and three others near Saarlautem.

“Our anti-aircraft fire brought down nine enemy planes in the first week in November. Our losses during the same time were two shot down and three missing.”