Evening star., 1940-09-17
Nozi Fleet Scattered

LONDON, Sept. II (P.-A west
erly gale sweeping through the
English Channel throughout last
night scattered Germany's invasion
fleet and sent her ships scurrying
for shelter, the Air Ministry an
nounced today in giving reports of
British reconnaissance planes.
Many British conveys passed
through the Channel today, without
any German attempt to molest them,
1t was said.
British planes combing the Ger
man-occupied coast across the Chan
mel reported sudden changes" in
the disposition of German ships
which previously had been spotted.
The storm, which along with a
thick land fog, was a welcome bar
rier to any immediate invasion
failed, however, to stop German
planes in their attacks at London.
The city experienced four air raid
alarms during the day, the fourth
coming at 6:31 pm.
BY midmorning the Germans had
made three daylight raids here fol-
lowing one of the heaviest night as
saults on the British capital.
The third alarm sounded in mid
afternoon and brisk encounter
ensued between Nazi craft and
British fighters. One German pilot
bailed out. The alarm ended at
4:24 pm. after being in force an
hour and 81 minutes
Another morning raid by lone
attacker on southeast English
town caused considerable damage
and a number of casualties. with
bombs hurled on a shopping center
and private dwellings.
The Air Ministry announced Ger
man bombs fell last night in the
heart of London's exclusive Mayfair
area of the West End. Bond, Re-
gent and Oxford streets, Piccadilly,
Park Lane, Berkeley and Sloan
Squares were hit.
Casualties Not Heavy"
An official announcement said
that the night attacks were con-
centrated on the London area and
that number of fires were started
and considerable damage done. but
that casualties. ION the whole, do
not appear to have been heavy"
One of the daylight attackers was
believed downed by anti-aircraft fire
and another was reported shared in
a barrage balloon cable during the
night.
British seamen. watching the
white-capped Channel with prac-
ticed eye, said the blow looked like
the beginning of the fall storms and
declared that Adolf Hitler had lost
his best chance to attempt land
ing on the shores of England.
Churchill Weather.
From the Dover coast an Asso-
ciated Press correspondent tele-
phoned this report to London:
TITS Churchill weather here this
morning. There's nasty cross sea
running and the Channel here
would be bad for regular steamers
in peacetime, let alone for any fiat
bottomed troop barges.
Sailors say this is No. Z wind
gale force is No. 9. There's mist
on the water, clouds overhead and
the outlook certainly is not very
promising for either air or sea
crossing"
To Enghshmen, waiting along
Dover's chalk cliffs for Hitler's
armada to appear through the mists,
the tune whistled by the wind
across the straits sounded like a
cheering Rule Britannia"
London, battered for the 10th
consecutive night by large numbers
OF Nazi warplanes, had its first day.
light alarm of the day at 1859 am,
but the all clear sounded At min
utes later without incident in the
capital area. A second alarm sound
ed at 900.
Several minutes before the Sec
ond alarm sounded passengers In q
tsee LONDON, Page A-30