The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-10-16

sCcniinued from Page -
driven back from the Isle Of May In
the Firth Of Forth.
The Royal Air force engaged to-
days raiders and inflicted casual
ties upon them the air ministry
said.
The air ministry announcement
said:
"T'he air ministry announces that
German aircraft have attempted to
attack coastal detectives in Scot
land this afternoon.
1.-The Royal Air Force have en-
gagged the raiders and inflicted cas-
ualties upon them.
"A further bulletin will be issued
as soon as possible"
Earlier Attack
cone Of the earlier attacks on the
Scottish coast had been reported
Friday by the crew of a German
warplane picked up at sea by Dam
ish steamer. The crew said their
plane had been shot down by Brit
isll craft in q dogfight over Tyne
side, Scottish shipbuilding center,
and had fallen into the sea-
Earlier, 1t had been announced
that the r. A. F. had carried out
successful reconnaissance flights last
night over Northern and Central
Germany, despite adverse weather
conditions.
Gin Berlin, it was announced that
British bombing plane was shot
down near Frankfort, one Of its
crew being killed and three cap
tured, while French reconnaissance
plane was shot down near Germer-
Sheim, behind the Siegfried line.
One of the French crew was killed
and two captured).
Report From Scotland
Edinburgh, Scotland, Oct. l6 Gu.
P.)> - Two or three German war
planes participating In an attempted
raid on the naval bases in the Firth
of Forth were reported beaten off
today by anti-aircrart batteries and
Royal Air Force planes.
The batteries opened fire at p.
m. e a. m. EST. The planes were
reported sighted over the city at
2:35 p. m.
Firing was particularly heavy in
the vicinity of the Firth of Forth.
One group of planes--presumably
British-was sighted south OF
Edinburgh, pursuing other aircraft.
Shrapnel Fell In Streets
Shrapnel from bursts of antiair-
craft fire fell in the streets but
there were no casualties. The day
was clear.
It Is about AS miles from the
German coast to the Firth of Forth.
sThere were reports that the raid
ing planes dropped bombs but they
lacked immediate official confirma-
ton. One observer said he saw
bombs drop south of the city.
Three raiding craft were reported
seen over the Blackall district. Anti
aircraft shrapnel was said to have
burst around them.
Residents Of the center of the city
said they did not see any bombs.
Mrs. r. Donaldson, who witnessed
the engagement, said that persons
she talked to believed the anti
aircraft guns were "practicing" as
there had been no warning.
No Sirens Sounded
There were no raid sirens sound
ed. People walked through the
streets, watching the burst Of shells
in the sky.
Work continued as usual. There
was no particular sign OF alarm in
the suburbs.
Mrs. Donaldson's story of the air
battle was:-
"A German airplane flew over the
city at a few hundred feet above the
houses, with three British planes
trailing 1t.
1.-THE enemy plane was last seen
heading out to sea with the British
in pursuit. Although lot of peo-
pie were scared, they came out of
their houses and watched the fight.
There were no reports that heard
of bombs being dropped in the city,
but the noise of guns was terrific.
Falls Near Pedestrian
"A man standing in shop door,
way picked up a piece of Shrapnel
which fell a few yards from him."
Several other persons reported
seeing twin-engined plane flying
low over the city. They said 1t
swooped down behind hill, after
which there was terrific machine
gun fire. The plane then turned
northward and burst of anti-air-
craft fire was seen on its tail.
After considerable anti-aircraft
fire from p. m. to 2:40 p. M, three
r. A. F. fighting planes flew low
and fast over the city toward the
north.
The plane, still a target for anti
aircraft guns, was reported to have
circled toward the Pentland hills.
Three enemy planes were believed to
have flown up the Firth of Forth |
in the attack.
British Plane Shot Down
Berlin, Oct. 16-(UP)-The Ger
man army high command announc-
ed today that a British bombing
plane was shot down by German
anti-aircraft fire at / a. m. near
Grossgerau. One member of the
crew was killed and three Others
were captured.
The high command also announc-
ed that a French reconnaissance
plane was shot down near Germer-
sheim. One man was killed and two
other occupants of the plane, who
were wounded, were taken to hos
pital.
Grossgerau and Germershiem are
in western Germany. Grossgerau
is nine miles north Of Darmstadt
on the Rhine and Germershiem Is
near frankfurt.
Shoot Own Plane Down
Berlin, Oct. 16-(UP)-A German
airplane "lost" 10000 feet above
Berlin Saturday night, was shot