THE CHINA MAIL, AUGUST 9,- 1989.
Biggest Mock Air War In History Over England
ALL RAIDERS DETECTED ON CROSSING COAST
London, To-day.
The biggest mock air war ever organised began at 8 o'clock last night and from then until 7 o'clock on Friday evening 1,300 of the fastest and most efficient bombers and fighters of the world will be engaged in day and night battles over half of England.
The climax will be from midnight to-night to 4 a.m.
-R.A.F.
MISHAP
Alexandria, To-day.
An R.A.F. seaplane yester day collided with the seawall here and sank, The three oc- cupants were injured, one
Reuter. slightly,
PLANS FOR
to-morrow, when a "blackout" affecting 28 EVACUATION OF
-
counties in Southern England will be staged. There will be concentrated raids on a great num- ber of targets all over the · area and about 200,000 A.R.P. volunteers will be participating in ground exercises organised by the local au- thorities throughout the area, as well as some 70,000 Air Force, Territorial Army and Obser- ver Corps men, while all transport authorities, factory owners and civilians including thou- sands of holidaymakers will co-operate in making the “blackout" complete.
Some 500 fighters are parti-are standing by and raid warnings cipating; their role will be to in-issued to the threatened areas in tercept 500 bombers which left the Eastern counties. aerodromes in England, crossed the Channel and flew over the
SINGAPORE
London, To-day. Singapore despatches indicate that plans have been drawn up for evacuation of Singapore and the
environs by the civilian population in the event of war..
The inhabitants of Sarawak in Borneo have been invited by the authorities to store sufficient re- serves of rice, sugar, salt, flour, milk and fat to last at least three months. "Many squadrons of Westland A report from Melbourne states French Coast before turning to bombers were immediately despatch-that two Australian cruisers, make for their targets in England, while Westland fighters took bourne on Tuesday for a cruise ed and made counter-raids in East- Canberra and Sydney, left Mel- land
Many hundreds of anti-aircraft off to engage the enemy.
around the eastern, northern and "Two raids were made in South western coasts of the Australian guns and searchlights have been manned at war stations and about London and the anti-aircraft bat-continent after which the cruisers 100 balloons flown at war stations teries were heavily engaged." — in: the London area. Every balloon Reuter. barrage squadron is participating
The air "war"' broke out at eight but each is flying only, one orao'clock last night for "Westland"-
few, balloons at a time.
an imaginary state comprising over EVERY PLANE DETECTED twenty countries to the east of the
-GROUND" WATCH
will proceed to Singapore, calling at some ports in Netherlands East Indies en route-Trans-Ocean.
An Air Ministry communique is-southern half of England including MORE TROOPS sued at 10.10 o'clock last night. London. stated that every attacking plane crossing the Coast had been detect- ed and reported by listening posts of the Observer Corps.
The communique reads:- "Hostilities began at 20.00 by the declaration of war between Eastland, quickly followed by series of bombing raids by East land along the East Coast of West land from the Wash to points north
the Thames Estuary, "Eleven sudden raids were made over this area during the first forty minutes of the war.
Westland fighter squadrons and their ground organisation were an- xiously on the watch as the time and the objectives of the first at- tacks by the Eastland, bombers were, unknown. -
to
its
Eastland with 500 of the most modern bombers was expected launch Wave after wave of planes across the Westlands from tier, defended by 800 aeroplanes, Including the world's fastest fight ers, reconnaisance machines, and [bombers ready to retaliate on the
Eastland bases.
"Despite the intense activity of the raiders, as well as the unsettled Westland also had 15,000 terri- weather and bad visibility over the torials to man anti-aircraft guns Eastern counties, the observer sys- and searchlights, ten squadrons tem is working perfectly, all air of the London balloon barrage and craft crossing the Coast being de- fifteen groups of Observer Corpy tected by the listening posts of the equipped with secret apparatus Observer Corps.
stretching invisible feelers into the night sky to seek out highflying. “Air-raid warning organizations raiders—British Wireless,
COUNTER-RAINS
Book through
AMERICAN LLOYD
TRAVEL SERVIC
FORE SINGAPORE
TWO BOMBERS REPORTED DOWN IN NORTH SEA
Canton, To-day.
to..
The Walton-on-Sea and Ald- brugh lifeboats are reported to have left their stations search for two R.A.F. bombers believed to be missing between the sunk light vessel and Ship- wash Shoal off the coast of Es- sex.
R.A.F.speedboats are also reported to be participating in the search for the bombers, which were taking part in the air defence exercises.
The lifeboats were launched after reports from Observer Corps stations that the R.A.F. planes had crashed in the North Sea-Reuter.
STOCK MARKET
QUIET
London, To-day.. The stock exchange experienc-. ed one of its quietest session for some time, owing to the absence of interest.
Prices nevertheless were general- lý firm, particularly rubbers which tended to strengthen.
Sympathy improved the United Kingdom stock position; commodi- ties and wheat were easy on reports. of cooler Canadian weather-
Cotton is not greatly affected by the publication by the U. S. Bureau of Agriculture of crop estimates. Wall Street is firmer.-Reuter.
JAPANESE AIR ACTIVITY IN SOUTH
Shanghal, To-day. Japanese planes are exceedingly active in South China, especially in Kwangsi and Kwangtung provinces.
London, To-day. Singapore were announced over the Further troop despatches for
The action is apparently aimed | British radio yesterday evening.
at reinforcing the naval blockade -Two troop-ships, it was declared, along the coast through systematic. were expected to "arrive shortly--- bombing of the frontler towards morning one British and three In-tary supplies coming in by road.
It will be recalled that yesterday Indo-China in order to prevent mill- dian, battalions, all from India, total number of troops shipped arrived in Singapore, bringing the
there from Indian, ports during the last few weeks to 4.000.-Trans- Ocean.
GERMAN-SOVIET TRADE TALKS
Berlin, To-day
German-Soviet trade talks are
| reported - here to have taken a
The railway running from Indo- longs to the French and cannot be China into Yunnan Province be
bombed. Trans-Ocean.
COMMISSIONS FOR MILITIAMEN
London, To-day.
Militiamen called up under the Compulsory Military Training -Act will be able to earn commissions in accordance with the training pro- gr
made
and regulations favourable turn so that signing of public by the War Office last night.
A new commercial agreement be-British Wireless. tween the two countries may be
expected during the next few days, IDZUMO SAILS
Official uarters continue, how-
to adopt an attitude of re-