"PITY THERE ARE NO HUNS IN THEM"

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 154, 1 July 1944, Page 5

"PITY THERE ARE NO HUNS IN THEM"

FLYING BOMBS

Churchill Sees Guns In

Action

N.Z. Press Association—Copyright Rec. noon. LONDON, June 30. Mr. Churchill, accompanied by General Sir Frederick Pile, Com-mander-in-Chief of the Anti-Aircraft Command, and Mrs. Churchill, spent six hours watching anti-aircraft batteries in action against flying bombs. As he shook hands' with the gunners, who had already shot down several bombs, Mr. Churchill said grimly: "It is a pity there are no Huns" in them." Mr. Churchill's daughter Mary was in charge of the A.T.S.. plotting the fire of one battery the party visited. Flying bombs early to-day exploded on and demolished a large private house in Southern England, which was used as a hostel for evacuated children of under five years of age. Some of the children and members of the nursing staff were killed, and others are still trapped in the wreckage. Several Bodies have been recovered.

The children were asleep when the bomb, which had been shot down, fell on the hostel. The building housed between 20 and 30 children, the matron and 11 members of the nursing staff. The matron was among those seriously injured. A.T.S. Among Victims Girls of the Army Territorial Service were among the victims when a flying bomb severely damaged a building near a common at breakfast time. Another bomb demolished two shelters and killed four persons, while still another damaged a doctor's surgery, from where the doctor was dug out uninjured, after which he helped other doctors to administer morphia to the victims.

Six persons were killed in another incident in which American soldiers, members of the Home Guard, boy scouts and civilians aided the rescuers.

A search is going on for persons trapped when a flying bomb directly hit shops and houses in another town in Southern England. When a flying bomb fell in a street in one town large buildings were severely damaged. Clouds of smoke, after the explosion, hid the scene and when the smoke dispersed a number of people were seen lying on the pavements injured. A question was asked in the House of Commons whether the Home Secretary, Mr. Morrison, would, in order to counter enemy propaganda, give weekly figures of the total casualties caused by flying bombs since this indiscriminate form of bombing started. Mr. Morrison replied that he had to take into account whether the publication of the figures would help the enemy. He would give careful consideration to the question. Ordeal In Hospital R.A.F. fighters this evening destroyed three flying bombs in five minutes. The first was shot down as soon as it appeared; the others were pursued and destroyed a few miles farther inland. _

Fighters and anti-aircraft gunners continued to combine in the past 24 hours to take toll of flying bombs launched against Southern England, says the Air Ministry. Even fighters which were out on reconnaissance darted in and claimed kills, and a fighter which had completed a patrol when preparing to land saw a flying bomb approaching and rose up and destroyed it. A good percentage of flying bombs have been destroyed without causing damage. A flying bomb crashed on a hospital and severely damaged the wards. Nurses and patients were among the dead and it is feared others are still buried.