Evening star., 1940-01-29
Nazi Bombers
Raid Ships on
British Coast
Attacks Are Most
Widespread Yet
Attempted in War
By the Associated Press.

BY the ASSOClaleO eTeSS.
LONDON, Jan. 29.-German
bombing planes were reported to
have attacked British ships along
400 miles of Britain's east coast to-
day in the most widespread raids
on shipping yet attempted in the
war
Attacks on vessels were reported
from the mouth of the River Tay
in the north to the Kentish coast
in the south. They continued from
shortly after 9 am. to midday.
Anti-aircraft guns burst into &C
ton in the Tyneside area, and air
raid warnings we're sounded in a
number of northeast coast districts.
British fighters were credited with
driving off the bombers.
Ships Reporting Attacks.
Ships reporting attacks were
listed as the British Officer, $500
tons: Atholl Monarch, Danny Bryn,
Stanburn, 1881 tons; Otterpool,
4,867 tons; Knitsley, 2,272 tons;
Wellpark. 4,649 tons, and the $751;
ton Imperial Monarch. off the
Scottish coast, which reported that
the attacking bombers were driven
off by British fighters.
Seven bombs were dropped near
the 4,699-ton Llanwern in Tyneslde
without a hit. the British reported.
The German raids came on a day
of bitter winter weather which
brought British rail and highway
traffic to a state described as the
most chaotic in memory.
Violent Blasts Heard.
Violent explosions were heard at
sea off North Yorkshire resort be-
fore the first air raid. warning
sounded in four towns along the
northeast coast.
An air ministry communique said
no enemy aircraft crossed the coast.
When the raiders were sighted off
the northeast coast about 9 am, an
air ministry communique said, air
raid warnings were sounded, Royal
Air Force fighter aircraft were sent
up. and ti-aircraft guns opened
fire in the Tyne district, on the North
Sea coast.
The public calmly took shelter at
one undisclosed inland Yorkshire
town when observers reported what
they believed we're number of
German bombers. Air raid precau-
ton organizations went to their
posts.
Three Sinkings Reported.
The sinking of three neutral ships
also was reported in a British state
nent that blamed German Sub
marines.
The Danish ship England, 2,767
tons, was reported sunk with only
one of the crew surviving. The num-
ber lost was not given.
The 844-ton Norwegian steamer
Faro sank and at least seven men
were lost. The wreck was driven
ashore yesterday after the captain
and six men were rescued.
The 1591-ton Norwegian vessel
Hosanger also was sunk A British
naval vessel picked up a lifeboat
with three men who believed they
were the only survivors. The num-
ber missing was not stated.
Leaves Are Postponed.
The extreme wlntry weather, be-
sides Gripping British transporta-
ton systems, caused postponement
of scheduled home leaves for the
British EXpeditionary Force IN
France.
The war Office announced that the
B. E. F. home leaves had been post
poned temporarily owing to in
tensely severe weather conditions"
but, the public was assured, the
Royal Air Force remained ready for
instant action.
The Southern Railway appealed to
the public to avoid unnecessary
travel. Two trains loaded with pas
sengers, many of them soldiers, were
stranded overnight after break
down.
The highway and rail tieup was
the most extensive in Britain's his
tory.
Food, freight and mail trains were
delayed from II to "a hours. Many
trains in North England and Scot
land were completely lost"