Evening star., 1940-07-24
Six German Planes
j Felled in Fight,
London Claims
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
LONDON. July 24.-A furious air
battle involving 60 planes was fought
over the Thames Estuary today
when Germans attacked merchant
convoy and were scattered by
swarm of British fighters.
British communiques said six of
the German planes engaged in that
attack were shot down and three
others were shot down in raids over
the northwest and southwest coast
and Southeast Scotland--nine in
all.
The Air Ministry said four were
shot down in the southeastern raid
by fighters and one by anti-aircraft,
while another report said a sixth
plane was forced into the sea in a
subsequent chase.
Thrilling Spectacle.
A witness of the battle over the
Thames estuary, youth who had
just Joined the Royal Air Force, said
''the planes seemed to be coming
in from all directions.
There were SO or 60 at one time
and as they whirled around it was
difficult to distinguish British from
German.
ut was so thrilling that watchers
forgot their own danger from fly
ing bullets and stood peering into
the sky"
More than 100 bombs were drop
ped by six planes swooping down on
shipping off the southeast coast.
The German high command. ap-
parently referring to the same as
sault, declared that Nazi fighting
planes "annihilated" convoy of five
commercial vessels totaling 1900
tons and set another merchant YES
sci sfire.
One of the fighters crashed in the
middle of road near some cot
tages. The other was forced to
land in cornfield.
Raiders Strike at Shipping.
Striking at shipping off the SOUTH
east coast, German bombers we're
engaged by British fighters and one
Of the bombers plunged into the sea.
The others fed.
The pilot of the plane which nose
dived into the street was killed when
his parachute broke in midair. The
other pilot was seriously injured
| by machine gun bullets.
One raider dropped high explosive
and incendiary bombs on South
west Scotland area damaging build
|ings.
An 86-year -old woman was wound
ed in the arm by a machine-gun
bullet when raider flew over a
hospital on the outskirts of a North
east England town.
Another raider was brought down
in Southwest England. One of
the crew was killed. one wounded
and the other two were taken pris-
oner.
Blitzkrieg Expected Soon.
British military leaders watched
the German operations closely for
a hint that Adolf Hitler is about to
launch his promised blitzkrieg.
Everywhere belief was apparent that
: the final test of strength may come
at any moment.
King George VI talked with
Prime Minister Churchill for half
hour last night and later received
Sir Cyril Newall, chief of the air
staff. The purpose of the con-
ferences was not disclosed, however
Lord Beaverbrook, Minister of
Aircraft Production, announced ap-
pointment of w. L. Stephenson,
chairman of the board of F. w.
Woolworth Co., Ltd, as director
general Of equipment in his depart
ment.
Appeal by De Gaulle.
Gen. Charles de Gaulle, leader of
the French National Committee" in
London. appealed meanwhile to
Frenchmen everywhere to continue
the fight against Germany.
1T is your duty to do So" he
declared in a broadcast address
last night. do not place the orders
of a discredited authority before
your sacred obligation to fight for
the salvation of France"
He said French operations on land
and sea would be resumed soon.
The press devoted considerable
space to comment on the emergency
war budget submitted to the House
of Commons yesterday by Chancellor
of the Exchequer Sir Kingsley Wood,
Including heavy tax increases.
The London Times said it was
"another interim budget" and add
ed 1T remains to be seen whether
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