Page
THE CHINA MAIL, OCTOBER 17, 1939
GERMAN AIR RAID ON THE FORTH
ATTACK WARSHIPS AND FAMED BRIDGE
London, To-day.
THE AIR MINISTRY ánnounced yesterday after- noon that German aircraft had attempted to The Royal make a coastal attack in Scotland. Air Force engaged the enemy and inflicted "some" casualties.
It is reported that anti-aircraft guns went
into ac-
tion around Edinburgh at about 2 p.m. The wea- ther was fine and shell-bursts high in the sky were clearly visible. The firing was particularly heavy near the Firth of Forth.
There
was
also a great deal of aerial-activity and observers report that some of the aircraft appeared to be chasing other machines. -Reuter. HEAVY FIRING IN FORTH
London, To-day. German aircraft attempted an at- Scot- tack on coastal objectives in land yesterday afternoon. The Royal Air Force engaged the raiders and inflicted casualties.
Anti-aircraft guns around Edinburgh were in action just after 2 p.m. B. S. T. Shells could plainly be seen bursting in the sky.
There was very heavy near the Firth of Forth.
firing
There
was also much aerial activity on the south side of the City to-- wards Pentland Hills. Some aircraft appeared to pursuit.
be
ac-
One of the best eye-witness counts of the raid was given by pas- sengers on trains crossing the Forth Bridge which seems to have been one of the raiders' objectives,
They saw planes swoop and unload bombs at a low altitude and columns of water shooting from the river in- dicated where the missiles were fall- ing-Reuter.
NO CIVILIAN CASUALTIES
Later.
An Air Ministry bulletin states that there were no civilian casualties in the raid, nor was there any damage
Reuter. to property.
TWO CRASH IN FIFESHIRE
London, To-day.
OFFICIAL STORY OF RAIDS
London, To-day.
A communique issued by the Admiralty, Air Ministry and Min- Istry for Home Security states that about a dozen German ma¬ chines partiolpated in bombing. raids on ships lying in the Forth yesterday afternoon.
No serious damage was done to any ships. A bomb glanced off the cruiser Southampton causing slight damage near the bow and sank the empty admiral's barge and pinnace."
There are three casualties on the Southampton, seven aboard the cruiser Edinburgh and 25 aboard the destroyer Mohawk from splinters.
At least four bombers brought down,
were
Two German airmen were res- cued by a destroyer, one of whom has since died. There were no civilian or Air Force casualties.
The raid was preceded in the morning by several German alr- craft reconnoltring over Rosyth.
Reuter.
NAVAL
BATTLE IN NORTH SEA
London, To-day.
A naval battle in the North Sea on Saturday afternoon is reported by Norwegian fisher- men who have just returned home.
They said that they saw three war- ships and several 'planes which attack a they took to be British solitary warship. They watched the
hours 'battle rage for two
through their telescopes.
Some of the fishermen said that the solitary warship was sunk. Another fishing amack, which had to make a detour round the fight- ing, does not confirm this, how. ever, but says that the warship was badly damaged and sinking slowly.
As it made for the sanctuary of Norwegian territorial waters, the other warships and the aeroplanes turned and made off in a westerly direction.
Reuter.
The Management of the Lido advises It is confirmed that in yesterday's declare are watched with sympathe-that the usual dinner dances at that German air raid on Scotland, at least tic understanding by the British peo-Establishment will be discontinued as in three
from to-morrow until further notice. German bombers were shotple.-British Wireless, down by anti-alrcraft fire.
One bomber fell in the Firth of two crashed in Forth and the other
Reuter.
PRISONERS TAKEN
SHRAPNEL IN STREETS Full details of this engagement are not so far available but reports from | Fifeshire.. Edinburgh state that pieces of shrap- nel" were picked up in the streets in several parts of the city after anti-nounce in aircraft firing ceased.
shon
One man standing in a doorway plcked up places of shrapnel which were still ̄ ̄warm- which fell a few yards away from him. The air raid sirens were not sounded.
There was also much aerial activity over the north district of Edinburgh.
Three fighters were seen streaking across the sky at a low altitude.
A. A. GUNS OPEN UP
No sooner had the machines dipped behind a hill than anti-aircraft guns opened Are and white smoke puffs were visible in the sky just behind the planes,
Soon afterwards a twin-engined machine flew at a low height from the direction of the city and swooped behind a hill.
For a few moments the roar of machine gun fire was heard and the plane returned farther north and a salvo of shell burst appear- ed at its tall.
Individual bursts followed the plane around, in the sky towards Pentland Hills.
had
A report circulating in Edinburgh stated that three enemy planes flown up the Forth.
FRUITLESS
|
The Ministry of Home Security an- connection with the at- tempted attack on Scottish coastal ob- jectives that at least three German bombers were brought down, one, în the Firth of Forth and two-in Fife- shire as the result of anti-aircraft fire. The raiders approached at a great by height and were hotly engaged anti-aircraft guns.
four, one was Of one crew of
by drowned, two were found killed bullets and a fourth man was rescu- ed alive with an injured arm.
Three of the crew of another Ger- man raider which came down in the Pentland Hills, were taken prisoner.
FRENCH NAVY'S AID
PARIS, TO-DAY.
THE PART PLAYED BY THE FRENCH NAVY IN PROTECTING THE TRANSPORT OF BRITISH FORCES TO FRANCE IS JUST RE- VEALED.
sions will be considerably exceeded.—
About 100 French warships parti- the convoy according to cipated, "Petit Parisien," including submarine chasers, destroyers and torpedo boats. In paying a tribute to the British forces in France the "Excelsior" states The daring daylight German air-that the original estimate of 32 divi- raid on Scottish coast objectives re- sulted fruitlessly for the raiders one Reuter. of which was reported brought down in Fifeshire, another in' Firns Forth and the remainder were driven across the North Sea by British fighters.
Splinters from A. A. shells fell in numerous. Fife towns.
It is understood that that no bombs were dropped on land although some are believed to have fallen in the water.
It is officially announced that there was no material damage.
BRIDGE ATTACKED
It matill unknown how many Gərman planes partiolpated Initha- rald, one eye-witness declares that he saw sight.
TRIBUTE TO KING CAROL
London, To-day.
of
The King has seen a telegram congratulation to King Carol--whose forty-sixth birthday is the occasion of cordial references to himself and his country in the newspapers here, which speak appreciatively of his efforts to establish Rumanian neutral- ity in a neutral Balkan bloc during the present hostilities, which
they
ALL WOOL BLANKETS
MANUFACTURERS PRICES HAVE NOW ADVANCED 40%
BUY YOUR REQUIREMENTS NOW AT REASONABLE PRICES
All Pure Wool Blan- Coloured kets Single Bed Size. Green, Pink, Blue, Camel, Mauve
$25.00
.00 Pair
All Pure Wool Blankets White Single Bed Size. Very Warm and Light
$39.50 Pair
Super Merino
The World's Best Blanket Single
$79.50 Pair
Double $129.50
Pair
WHITEAWAY, LAIDLAW & CO., LTD., HONG KONG.
Dine at the
Parisian Grill
NOW
AIR-CONDITIONED
Good Food
by
Fine Wines
Dinner and Dance Music
THE BLUE DANUBE TRIO
Open till 1a.m.
10, Queen's Road, C.
Telephone 27880.