SEVERE ATTACK

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 5, 17 October 1940, Page 5

SEVERE ATTACK

GREAT GERMAN ONSLAUGHT.

ONE OF THE HEAVIEST YET.

BOMBS RAIN ON LONDON.

LONDON, October 16

An Air Ministry communique says: The enemy dropped a large number of bombs on London and its suburbs last night. The attack on the capital was of a heavy nature, but the damage was not as great as from the raids early in September. Bombs were dropped indiscriminately on many parts of the Capital. The damage was confined mainly to houses and industrial premises and utility services. Officials in Berlin claimed that the London night -attack was the heaviest yet, more than 1000 planes participating and dropping more than 1000 tons of bombs. In a raid on London several enemy planes flew low, some just over the balloon - barrage. A Molotov breakbasket fell near a famous railway terminus, but- the> resultant fire was quickly controlled. Two high explosive and two oil bombs fell on the outskirts of London, . demolishing two houses. The manager of an electric light company was killed in his home when a high-explosive bomb was dropped on an East Anglian town. An historic church, parts of which date back several centuries, was damaged by a bomb in a South of England town. Two of the best-known Scottish auxiliary squadrons, City of Edinburgh and City of Glasgow, participating in the defence of London, have repeatedly been in action for several weeks in a southeast area. Their combined bag is nearly 150 ’planes in addition to many unconfirmed victories and planes damaged. Several of these pilots were engaged in the first battle over Britain; when the Germans last year attempted to raid the Firth of Forth. The Edinburgh Squadron recently shot down 14 planes in one day, a record few squadrons have equalled. Contrasting with the reports of the German News Agencies and radio stations which boast of British air losses and damage to London, German pilots testify to the efficiency of London’s defences. One pilot described how antiaircraft shellbursts drew nearer till one of his engines was put out of action and he was compelled to dash for tyIt is officially stated that 18 raiders were shot down yesterday. Fifteen of our fighters were lost, but nine of the pilots are safe.

Remarkable Calm. Many men, women and children displayed remarkable calm when a bomb hit a suburban shelter, shattered a water main and flooded the interior waist deep. There were few casualties, although a heavy death-roll seemed certain. The lights of the shelter went out and the occupants formed a human chain and waded out, holding one another. Several children were slightly injured while scrambling out. After a day in which numerous German attacks causing seven short daylight alerts were regularly repulsed, the night raid began a few minutes later than usual. . This slight relief had not deceived Londoners, thousands of whom had already taken up positions in subterranean shelters. From these safety points only an occassional dull rumble betokened the activity above the ground where the raiders, flying high, passed over, constantly dropping flares followed by explosive bombs. Ma-chine-guns, fired with remarkable accuracy, shot down flares. An oil bomb and a high-explosive bomb crashed together in one district, causing casualties. Another bomb struck the lounge of a public house, injured several persons and damaged adjoining houses. A salvo of bombs traced in a straight line along a street, damaging a number of houses and shops.