PROVINCES RAIDED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 290, 14 September 1940, Page 5

PROVINCES RAIDED

THREE ALARMS IN LONDON.

MANY CHURCHES DAMAGED.

DRAMATIC RESCUE OF A GIRL

(United Press Association—-Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.20 a.m.) LONDON, September 13.

Anti-aircraft guns and British fighters went into action against raiders over -London early this morning. Apparently dismayed by London’s shifting fence of exploding steel, which early last night shook the capital like an earthquake, the Germans turned violent attention to the provinces, several areas having very long raids. A north-east town endured its first serious attack. Two screaming bombs fell on a working-class district, damaging houses and causing casualties. Incendiaries showered down on various places as waves of raiders flew over and received a forceful welcome from antiaircraft guns. A high-explosive bomb damaged a casualty ward of a public assistance institution in a town on the north-east coast. An enemy plane was brought down in a street in a Welsh coastal town. Several bombers attacked a convoy off tho east coast of Scotland. Members of the convoy wore not damaged. A few persons were fatally injured when a bomb fell in a northern London district, where several shops were demolished and others seriously damaged. In another area bombs damaged several houses and a garage, a few people who were sheltering there being killed. From midnight to noon London was in a state of alarm for nine hours. The all-clear for the third alarm, which was given at 3.55, was sounded at 4.15 p.m. A solitary plane diving from the clouds was responsible for the third warning. Pedestrians threw themselves fnil length on the roadways and pavements. The plane dropped bombs, setting fire to a building. A raider dropped several incendiaries over a London district during the second warning, but they were promptly extinguished. Heavy explosions were heard in Central London, then a deafening gunfire barrage broke out. The streets were quickly deserted as shrapnel pattered on the roadways and rooftops. v

Several places were affected in the last few days by raids. It is now disclosed that the buildings damaged include Somerset-House, the churches of Our Lady of Victories (Kensington), St; Magnus tho Martyr, St. Within\s Cannon Street), (St. Mary at the Hill, St. Dunstan’s-in the East, St. Mary’s (Woolnorth), St. Clement’s (East Cheap), St. Augustine’s (Watling St.), and St. Giles (Cripplegate). Rotten Row and Barclay'Square were also affected.

About five bombs fell in the vicinity of St. Pdtil’s yesterday. One is believed to be a 500-pounder. A south-wqst suburb is beginning to resemble the East End. Hardly a street is without a crater or craters. Windows are rare for a considerable length along the main road of the district.

A girl, Mildred Castillo, aged 14, was rescued alive this afternoon from the ruins of a demolished house in a southwest suburb in which she had been since Monday. She ,was believed to be dead, but a passer-by heard her cries. 1

FOURTH ALARM SOUNDED.

(Received This Day, 12.25 p.m.) . LONDON, September .13. New Zealand House lias been reoccupied. The sirens sounded, for the fourth time, at 9.10 p.m.