Evening star., 1940-07-20
German Planes Blast Britain
In Doy-Long Raids as Hitler
Peace Bid Meets Only Scorn
Lightning Attack
Made by II Ships
On Southern Port
BULLETIN.

nounced today that 'for the
month beginning June Is, when
large-scale bombing raids on
the United Kingdom began, 4
total of 1886 civilians have been
killed and ATS seriously wounded
In air raids"
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, July 20.-German
bombers blasted the length of Brit
ain from John O'Groats to Lands
End today in pointed emphasis to
Adolf Hitler's "last chance" peace
offer, which found Britons coldly
contemptuous.
Roaring across the coast In the
early morning, the Nazis swarmed
over the country throughout the
n day In one of the worst raids Of the
war.
The dav-long attacks were capped
raid on ships anchored in a south
ern English harbor. Seventeen
planes let go their bomb cargoes
with mighty din, but apparently
no ships were hit.
Anti-aircraft and fighting planes,
kept busy Tending of the attackers,
broke up this foray. One German
plane was believed shot down in
the Channel and observers said two
others might have been downed by
anti-aircraft fire.
In Southeast England four Ger
man airmen, one Of them wounded,
were taken prisoner when their
bullet-shattered craft fluttered to
earth.
Defense forces battled raiders over
Southwest England, Wales and
Southeast Scotland.
A lone Nazi bomber let go three
bombs over Northeast Scottish
coastal town, badly damaging a
school.
Several Towns Bombed.
Bombs were dropped on several
towns In today's raids and at one
point German plane was reported
to have machine-gunned civilians
on q railway platform. The Air
Ministry said number of houses
had been destroyed and reported
some casualties" but no deaths.
Two Of the raiders over southern
England were officially reported shot
down, bringing to Is the number of
Nad craft destroyed in the last "a
hours.
Ten German planes were shot
down yesterday when 30 British
fighters engaged an enemy forma-
ton of 120 aircraft over the Channel
and 8 others were downed by anti
aircraft fire. At least seven fighters
were among the NaN planes de-
stroyed.
British planes also continued
forays against German bases, exc
cutting daylight attacks yesterday on
barge concentrations near Rotter-
dam and Boulogne and on ware
houses at LIE Havre. Naval bases at
Emden, Willemsoord and Harlingen,
rs well as airdromes and oil depots
Air Ministry reported.
Ready for Strength Test.
Britain ignored Hitler's final ap-
peal" for peace on his own
terms and indicated she is ready
for test of strength, undaunted
by Nazi threats driven home by one
Of the worst air raids of the war.
A scornful silence was the gov
ernments answer to the German
dictator, who yesterday gave Eng
land the choice of coming to terms
or facing total destruction"
1t was intimated that Prime Min
lister Churchill might have some
comment to make in the House of
Commons next Tuesday, but official
circles pointed out that he had en-
phasized only last Sunday Britains
determination to fight on to a finish,
and they declared that Hitler's
"offer" scarcely merited an answer
The press and public were more
vocal in their reaction to the
Fuehrer's speech, which was viewed
in many quarters as nothing more
than an effort to drive a wedge be-
tween Mr.. Churchill and the people.
Hitler's assertion that the British
people were being led astray by their
leaders in continuing the war was
heard by the public by radio and
was read In the press, which carried
full texts of the speech. They we're
able to hear Hitler's full argument.
The London Times summed up
the issue by declaring that Hitler
had admitted the "perfunctory"
nature of his offer by failing to men,
tion any terms on which peace is
possible, and added:
I'VE can do no other than fight
to the last extremity"
New Problem for Navy.
The British Navy was confronted
with a new problem when it was
announced that . German sea
raider Is "at large in the Atlantic"
after sinking two British merchant
ships-the 5,22s-ton st. John and
6,433-ton Davisian-near the West
Indies.
The raider was believed by the
AQmlIalJy 70 De q converted mer.
chairman.
The government meanwhile desig-
mated 1t. Gen. Sir Alan Brooke as
commander In chief Of the home
forces to succeed Gen. Sir Edmund
1ronside.
Sir Alan, q World War hero who
saw action with the British forces
IN France in the current war, is an
expert on gunnery and machinery
and has played large part in
mechanizing the army.
Gen. Ironside was elevated to
field marshal and kept on the active
list, 1t was explained, ito be avail
able either in an advisory capacity
or In command" It was his second
shift In two months. On May 26