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PARACHUTES DROPPED IN BRITAIN
SUSPECTED NAZI
HOAX
NO PARACHUTISTS
DISCOVERED
Invasion Panic Plan
Fails
LONDON, Wednesday
Reports have been received
of a number of parachutes,
which appear to have been
dropped from aircraft, having
been found in - two areas in
England and one area in Scot-'
land last night and early this
morning.
A widespread search was immediately
instituted by the police, military
and Home Guards, and the
search is continuing, but no pain
chutists have yet been found and
there is so far no evidence that part
christs have landed, states the Min
stay for Home Security
Scottish shepherds found 10 open
parachutes in a district over which
a large plane was seen to be flying
yesterday. The v military cordoned
the area and soldiers and Home
Guards searched all passing vehicles
and checked identification. *(J,* ?"
One driver, emphasising.- the
thoroughness of the precautions, said
that he had been stopped 20". times
a eight miles.
Soldiers Conduct- Search
Troops on foot and' in armoured
cars and lorries, mounting Bren guns, '
searched the Midlands and Scotland
to-night, for German parachutists.
. Patrols and Home Guards from j
villages in the?, Midlands reported
that grey shapes were seen floating
from the sky at midnight) "on Tuesday.
Just a Hoax
- ' All the parachutes found were
complete with harness. Two' were
neatly, folded. It is now believed that
the parachutes were dropped
as an invasion hoax, designed to
cause panic. '
Church 'bells broke the silence of
weeks to tell out the warning, "Be-
ware parachutists."
A Home Guard in the Midlands
saw a parachute drop a few hundred
feet away. He crawled under cover,
to the spot but there was no trace
of a parachutist.
A village rector, summoned by the
Home Guard, hurried to the church
in his pyjamas and rang the bell to
arouse the villagers.
- -A search was organised immediately.
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