TWO BIG RAIDS MADE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 38, 25 November 1940, Page 5

TWO BIG RAIDS MADE.

SOUTH AND MIDLANDS TOWNS. EXPLOSIONS CAUSE DAMAGE. LONDON, November 24. The main German air attack on Britain last night was concentrated on a town in the south of England. Tlie Air . Ministry says that many bombs were dropped in^the attack on this town, which lasted for several hours. Houses and commercial buildings were damaged by explosions. Elsewhere, in raids on widely separated districts,- the damage was slight, and there were few casualties. London j had a quiet night, with only a few bombs falling on the outskirts. The Air Ministry reports that bombs were dropped in many parts of England on Friday night, : ncli l iding the Merseyside and the London area; The main enemy attacks were directed at the West Midlands, where many fires were started, but were all, brought under control. Houses, business premises, and other buildings were damaged. It is known that a number of people were killed.

The raid on a West Midlands town continued after midnight, when it is estimated that more raiders were participating than in any previous attack on the Midlands. Damage to residential property was widespread and a church and two convents were hit. Preparations are being made to evacuate a hospital which was damaged by bombs.

A bomb struck the rear of the municipal buildings of the town, and masses of masonry blocked the street, below.;! The police station, hotels, schools, and an art gallery were hit. There was little damage in the centre of the town. Rescue squads toiled while bombs were falling round them. London had its longest alert of the war on Friday night, lasting more than 13 hours.. Bombs damaged houses and shops in one area. Four persons were trapped in a bus, two being killed..

Two sailors, were killed and five persons injured when a raider dropped two bombs in Liverpool, damaging -workers’ bouses and shops. Officials in Berlin declared that strong German air squadrons again attacked! Birmingham during Friday night, including dive-bombing attacks on important aircraft and other factories.' The- Official German News Agency, referring to the attacks on Birmingham, says that whole streets and a block of factory buildings were destroyed or gutted. The attacks were concentrated on armament works which had hitherto not been hit. The fires indicated that not only houses were burning, but huge raw material stocks, like raw wool and -cotton, which are stored at Birmingham. An Air Ministry and Ministry ofHome Security communique, dealing with Saturday’s raids,, says: “Enemy bombers and fighter bombers to-day made three raids on the south-east of England. One small formation, flying at a great height, penetrated to the London area. Very few bombs have so far been reported, but some damage was done to dwelling-houses in the suburbs of South London and to a town on tlio Thames Estuary. The casualties - so far known are very few.” The Italian Air Force again received rough treatment at the hands of the Royal Air Force on Saturday. A squadron of Spitfires shot down seven Italian fighters and one German fighter in the Straits of Dover. The Spitfire squadron suffered no losses, The Air Ministry announced that seven Italian and three German aircraft were shot down on Saturday up to 5.30 p.m.» The Secretary for War (Mr R. A. Eden) yesterday made an extensive tour of a number of areas in the Midlands, including Coventry, where lie saw troops assisting the civil authorities to repair the raided city. He also inspected the anti-aircraft defences. . Elsewhere Mr Eden saw military exercises by Czech troops, being greatly impressed by their keenness.