STOP PRESS NEWS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21193, 16 August 1940, Page 4

STOP PRESS NEWS

BATTLE FOR ENGLAND “THE CLIMAX NEAR” LONDON, August 15 Fighters and anti-aircraft guns had their most strenuous day since the outbreak of the battle for Britain as hundreds of German bombers and escorts swarmed across the Channel, raiding widescattered areas of southeast England. The raids culminated with a crash of bombs cn London’s airport at Croydon. The afternoon raids began with a formation of 54 heavy bombers in flights of eighteen • strong. They met a tornado of antiaircraft Are, but flew on across tho and were hotly engaged further inland by fighters. Aften ten minutes another formation of 54 crossed the coast, following the same course. Tho anti-aircraft defences went into action even more violently, and more accurately, rocking the raiders. North-east England had the fiercest attacks so far. It is reported that they killed twolve people, of whom at least three were children. A farmhand was clipping a hedge and was killed instantly when three bombs landed in the next field. The bomb splinters hit a stationary train, injuring several passengers. Tho German news agency says a German fighter squadron made a surprise raid on the Driffield aerodrome, in Yorkshire, destroying hangars and barracks. All these attacks, the German spokesman declared, indicate that the great battle for England has begun. Cver-increasing masses of German planes will be flung against Britain. The climax is near. WARNING IN LONDON FIRST TIME IN WEEKS The sirens sounded in London for tho first time in many weeks whon from 20 to 30 raiders bombed Croydon. The raid climaxed a day of intense aerial warfare, but the air battles against England continued long after nightfall, with German losses rapidly mounting. 144 RAIDERS DOWN FALL AT ONE A MINUTE The British air defences experienced their most successful day in destroying German raiders yesterday when, up to midnight, it was officially announced that 144 of the Germans had boen shot down. The German air raids developed on a much larger scale than ever, and it is stated that over 1000 plan s participated in the attacks. The losses represent one in every seven raiders sent over. In the final mass attack over 200 enemy planes took part and one British fighter squadron shot down 19 of of these at tho rate of one a minute. T.ie British lost 27 fighters, but some of the pilots were saved. It is officially stated that the damage caused was not as great as would have been imagined and was out of all proportion to the heavy losses suffered by the Germans. ADDINGTON TROTS Addington Handicap: Nell Volo, 36, *-'La ? n > *; Millie!*, It., 3. * Dead heat for first. All started. Islington Handicap: Josedale Grattan, 1; Groat Divide, 2; Waitaki Power, 3.