BIG MASS RAID

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21246, 17 October 1940, Page 7

BIG MASS RAID

ATTACKS ON BRITAIN 1000 NAZI PLANES EIGHTEEN SHOT DOWN (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Oct. 16 German raiders dropped a large number of bombs on London and its suburbs last night. It was the nearest thing to a mass raid London has had at night. The Air Ministry communique states: “The attack on the capital was of a heavy nature, but the damage was not as great as from the raids early in September. “‘Bombs were dropped indiscriminately in many parts of the capital. Damage was confined mainly to houses, industrial premises and utility services.” In Berlin, officials claimed that the night attack on London was the heaviest yet made. It was stated that over 1000 aeroplane stook part, dropping over 1000 tons of bombs. The machines came over in groups, many travelling from north to south. There was a fierce anti-aircraft barrage throughout the night. Bombs were dropped indiscriminately, but damage was mainly confined to houses, industrial premises and utility services. Bombs in Other Districts A town in the Midlands was also attacked, and bombs fell in several other districts of England and at isolated points of Scotland arrd Wales. It is officially stated that 18 raiders were shot down. Fifteen British fighters were lost, but nine of the pilots are safe. Several of the raiders flew low, some just over the balloon barrage. A “ Molotoff breadbasket ” fell near a famous railway terminus, but the resultant fire was quickly controlled. Two high explosive and two oil bombs fell on the outskirts of London and demolished two houses. The manager of an electric light company was killed in his home when a high-explosive bomb dropped in an East Anglian town. An historic church, parts of which date back for several centuries, was damaged by a bomb which fell in a town in the south of England. MR ANTHONY EDEN VISIT TO EGYPT FORCES IN MIDDLE EAST (Omclal Wireless) (Received Oct. 17, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 16 Mr Anthony Eden has arrived in Egypt. It is understood he will have conversations with General Wavell, British commander in the Middle East. Mr Eden will also visit contingents of the British and Allied forces in the Middle East.

CLAIMS BY ENEMY “H.M.S. AJAX AGAIN SUNK” MUCH DAMAGE IN BRITAIN SINKING OF SUBMARINE (United Pres-s Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrlg-ht) (Received Oct. 17, noon) LONDON, Oct. 16 The Berlin radio announced another sinking of H.M.S. Ajax, this time by the Italians. The Berlin news agency says the gradual voluntary evacuation of children from large towns threatened by air raids, such as Berlin and Hamburg, is not due to any danger from the British air attacks, which do not necesitate action, but to the bad effect on the health of young children from frequent interruptions in sleep. A German communique says: The Royal Air Force continued indiscriminate bombing against nonmilitary objectives. Houses and farms were hit in Central and Western Germany, resulting in civilian casualties. The Luftwaffe attacked Southern and Central England, particularly London, with increased violence. The artillery turned back enemy naval units off the Channel coast. An Italian communique claims that the Italian submarine Torti sank a British submarine of the Perseus class in the Central Mediterranean after a violent gun duel at very close range. British planes again raided Bardia, Solium, Derna and Dirsofoa, southeastwards of Sidi Barrani; also Raegaza, Massawa and Diredawa. The British made a night raid on Benhgazi, considerably damaged dwellings, and sank a motor-boat. RESCUE OF AIRMEN ADRIFT FOR 25 HOURS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON. Oct. 16 After having been adrift in a rubber dinghy for 25 hours, a small group of British airmen, whose machine had crashed in the Atlantic, were picked up by a former American destroyer on its way to Britain. The destroyer was one of the 50 recently transferred to Britain.