DRIVEN BACK ACROSS CHANNEL

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21224, 21 September 1940, Page 9

DRIVEN BACK ACROSS CHANNEL

LONDON’S THIRTEENTH NIGHT-LONG RAID SEVERAL PEOPLE KILLED—MANY HOUSES DEMOLISHED (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 21, 11.25 a.m.) LONDON. Sept. 20 The'gale has dropped in the Straits of Dover and the sea is calmer. France is easily visible. Two hundred German planes were chased hack across the Channel today. Twelve are reported to have been shot down. Strong forces of German bombers and fighters crossed the Kent coast, heading for London. A few reached the capital, but the attack was broken within an hour. Two hundred incendiary bombs fell in Essex villages. Among the unexgloded bombs unearthed was one 25 years old. Workmen installing an air raid shelter located the bomb and hurriedly summoned the disposal unit, which was amazed to discover that it was dropped in the last war. A raider cruising over a south-east coastal town bombed a working-class district. A public-house sustained a direct hit and the landlord, his wife, the staff and customers were trapped. A second bomb wrecked three houses, killing three people. A big bomb dropped on the outskirts of London last night and completely wrecked two houses, rendered a dozen others uninhabitable, and damaged scores of others. A formation of escorted German bombers was intercepted at a great height near a south-east town this morning. British fighters attacked from above and the Germans scurried off toward the coast. One was shot down. Three shattering explosions in the south-west shortly before sunrise closed London’s thirteenth night-long raid. The raider was apparently unloading before scurrying to escape the Royal Air Force dawn patrols.

Planes Shot Dow'n The Air Ministry stated at 8.45 p.m: Reports so far received show that four enemy aircraft were shot down in today’s fighting over Britain. Seven Royal Air Force fighters were lost but the pilots of three are safe. A communique issued jointly with the Ministry of Home Security states: This morning a force of enemy aircraft crossed the Kent coast. The enemy did not penetrate the London area beyond the eastern and south-eastern outskirts, where a few bombs were dropped. Little damage was done and there was only one slight casualty. Several bombs were also dropped on Brighton this morning, and damage was done to houses, while there were several casualties, some fatal. Enemy formations were engaged by Royal Air Force fighters, but the cloud conditions made interceptions difficult. The Air Ministry states that in Thursday’s actions five enemy bombers were shot down. None of the Royal Air Force fighters was lost. Rest Centres Provided The latest feature of London suburban life is the provision of rest centres by local authorities, where meals and temporary shelter are arranged for those whose homes have been destroyed or made untenable by enemy air action. The aim of the scheme is to provide accommodation for a few days while arrangements can be made for persons who have lost their homes either to travel to those of friends or relatives, or be placed in billets or empty houses taken over by local authorities. Travel vouchers are being provided for those unable to pay the fare. In some cases it is likely that a return home may be possible within a short period when repairs are executed or unexploded bombs dealt with. Local authorities are also to arrange for protection of furniture and property left behind, and, if necessary, to remove and store it. Hospital Staff’s Gratitude A cheque for £lO5 has been received from the matron and the nursing staff of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital “as a thank-offering for their safety and that of the hospital ” on a date named. Lord Londonderpr has offered his Park Lane mansion, Londonderry House, one of the most famous mansions in England, for housing families rendered homeless by bombings. The offer was made in response to the Lord Mayor’s appeal for the London distress fund. Sympathy from India A Calcutta message states that Abdul Rahman Siddiqu, who led the Muslim League delegation to the Palestine Conference in 1937 and who is Mayor of Calcutta, expressed sympathy for the victims of air raids on London. He said that, whatever the political differences between India and Britain, the hearts of citizens of the second city of the Empire went out to those suffering from the barbaric and indiscriminate German raids. The Calcutta City Corporation appointed a committee representative of all sections of the population to assist a fund which is being run in conjunction with the Lord Mayor’s fund. Claims by Germany A German communique states: Despite difficult weather on September 19 we bombed London and southeastern aerodromes and ports. At night we continued our reprisals against London military targets and western and central England. A few British planes bombed residential districts in towns in Western and south-western Germany. One British plane was shot down.. Three German planes are missing. Stock Exchange business in London is very restricted, but the genera! tendency of leading stocks is considered satisfactory.