RAID NEAR PARIS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 122, 5 March 1942, Page 6

RAID NEAR PARIS

ESTIMATE OF 650 KILLED. MARSHAL PETAIN’S RESENT: WENT. DAY OF MOURNING ORDERED. (United Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 12.15 p.m.) LONDON, March 4. The Free French* National Committee in, London stated: “Parisiennes arriving in London, without exception, emphasised that the population of Paris ardently desired Royal Air Force raids against factories and establishments in the Paris zone working for Germany. This opinion is strongly held by the workers and families —namely, those lives exposed to the* greatest danger. ’ The latest estimate at Vichy is that GoO were killed in the Royal Air Force raid on Paris last night. British planes were again over Paris in the afternoon, but no* bombs were* dropped. The planes are believed to have been reconnoitring to see the effects of the raid last night. Joinville, which is the Hollywood' of Paris, is reported to have been lrit, as also was the hospital at Neuilly and the gasworks at Le Vesiiiet.

A statement, issued on behalf of Marshal Petain states: “The bloody attack, striking duly the civilian population, will arouse general indignation and assume the character of a national catastrophe.” M. Petain issued, a decree for the observance as a. national day of mourning the day when these killed are buried. The bodies have not been removed vet from one shelter which Was bit in which, it is believed, 180 were taking refuge. BERLIN RADIO REPORT. “HEAVIEST RAID BY R.A.F.” HIGHER ESTIMATE OF DEATHS. (Rec. 12.30 a.m.) LONDON, March 4. The" Berlin radio, quoting the Wilhelmstrasse (Foreign Office) spokesman, said that the British two-hour raid on Paris was the heaviest and most successful mass bombing, raid the Royal Air Force had carried out since the outbreak of war. The Paris radio stated that according to the latest reports at least 1500 were killed And several hundred injured in the'raid. 'Whole streets and complete districts were razed.