Gunfire Heard on North-East English Coast West Front Quiet as Snow Hampers Movements London, Oct. 30.
IR-RAID warnings were sounded this morning in three coast towns and one inland town in the south-east.
All clear" signals came within a few minutes.
At one of the coast towns, a noise of what sounded like gunfire apparently coming from a considerable distance in the Channel, was heard for a few minutes. Inhabitants of a town on the north-east coast, on their way to business, watched two planes flying very low, and were amazed when one of the machines started machine-gun fire.
Air-raid wardens went through the halls and corridors of the Ministry of Information in London this morning, blowing whistles. The whole of the Ministry's personnel was ordered to take shelter. Within a few minutes, the staff of the Government Bureau of Censors had taken shelter.
A few journalists continued to work. The staff returned to their rooms in about ten minutes.
It was later learned that two aeroplanes were seen over a north-east town, flying in a northerly direction.
'One report states a German plane was following a British machine, and the German aeroplane opened' fire, There were two bursts of fire.
No air-raid warning was given but a "stand-to" signal had been received. People stood in the streets while the machine-gun fire was taking place.
An alr-raid warning was. sounded in error at Holborn, London, Thou sands of people, just arriving at their 'emees, and. others poing to work, went to. public and other shelters. An'"all clear" was sounded " quarter hour later.
The objective of the plane appeared to be the upper reaches of the Firth of Forth, Flying very low, and at 2 terrific "speed, the pilot came Inland, where his progress was impeded by several RAF, planes, The British gunners opened fire and com~ pelled' the German machine to. put Bhout and head for the set, where it Aisappeared from view.
'The Air Ministry announces that the alr-raia warning. in the East Kent area this morning was due to the pre~ sence of unidentified aircraft off the const of Essex, flying south, British fighter aeroplanes went up' to in= vestigate, "An enemy, machine was seen off the north-cast coast of Eng~ Jand this morning. British Aghter planes went tp, and the German machine made off towards. the east before contact could be made:
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.