OUTRAGES IN LONDON

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 257, 28 July 1939, Page 9

OUTRAGES IN LONDON

One Man Killed And 22 Injured By Bombs SCENE OF TERRIBLE DEVASTATION LR.A. Bill Rushed After Station Explosions By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright LONDON, July 26. ~ One person was killed and 17 were injured as a result of the explosion of two bombs almost simultaneously in the left luggage office at King’s Gross Station. Those- injured include two women, whose clothes were torn off by the blast. Another bomb exploded simultaneously in a cloakroom at Victoria Station, five persons being injured. The office at King’s Cross Station is a scene of indescribable devastation. The terrific explosion rocked the neighbourhood. A woman 50 yards away was blown off her feet. The roadway and the approaches to the station were littered with debris from shattered suitcases. Members of the House of Commons were so angered by the fresh bombing incidents that the LR.A. Bill was read a third time in five minutes without division. The measure may become law tomorrow night. Dr. Donald Campbell, a lecturer at Edinburgh University, who had just arrived on holiday with his wife, died in hospital as a result of multiple injuries. His wife was also injured iu the legs. They were married only this year. The 17 other persons who have .been admitted to hospital included six women and a girl aged 15. Leg Blown Off. Three women and two porters who were inside the office at the time of the explosion were seriously injured. One porter had one leg blown off and his clothes ripped off. A constable near by was badly cut by Hying glass. A chauffeur and a woman inside a car outside the station were also wounded. A great cloud of smoke btlched from the office, into which police dashed and dragged out. the injured. As it was lunch time, there was a big crowd on the platforms. They were horrified to see women flung to the pavement, portions of their dresses being torn off. The police, despite a long search, failed to line! the bomb. It is believed to have .been made with gelignite. A large hole was blown iu the floor of the cloakroom. Trunks were burst, and not a single case or parcel was undamaged. Nearly a hundred police who were rushed to the station allowed no one to pass without reason. Depositors of luggage at oilier termini are being closely scrutinized. Crowds Infuriated. The crowds were so infuriated that the police had the greatest difficulty in preventing assaults on persons of Irish appearance. Five men were taken to the police station and questioned. As a result of the Victoria Station explosion, two cloakroom attendants and three porters were injured and taken to hospital. AU the patients are suffering from severe shock. First aid was given by .12 bystanders on the platform. The shutters were blown out and the cloakroom filled with smoke. Police ambulances and a fire engine were rushed up. The station clock was shattered. Several jiersons were injured by falling glass. The police kept a close watch on a railway viaduct near Uppingham, the biggest railway bridge in England, as they were informed of a plot to blow it up tonight. Three women and two men were charged at Bow Street in connexion with pillar-box explosions. MORE EXPLOSIONS Canal Traffic Stopped (Received July 27, 10.50 p.m.) LONDON, July 27. Two more explosions occurred early this morning. One wrecked a bridge across the Leeds-Liverpool canal at Maghull, completely blocking barge traffic in and out of Liverpool. The other, which is believed to have been caused by sticks of gelignite inserted in a letter-box, blew out the whole frontage of the Mount Pleasant (Liverpool) post office, littering the road with letters, writing paper and blotting pads. NO SYMPATHY Declaration In Eire DUBLIN, July 26. Mr. McDermott moved in the Eire Senate that the country was entitled to an explicit statement from the Government as to the justifiability and expediency of bombings. Mnay people in England and Eire, he said, believed that the Government secretlv sympathized with the outrages. ‘ The duty of Ministers was to make their own view clear and sure. Mr. Desmond Fitzgerald demanded, not a statement but action against a minority which was dragging Eire in the dust.

Mr. de Valera declared: “It is clear that the Government has . only one attitude. Authority has been challenged and legislation introduced to combat the challenge. The activities of the 1.R.A., if they are allowed to continue, will lead to anarchy, but we see tliere are two sides. We know that wrong has been done by the partition, which lias led to unfortunate occurrences in England.” Tliere was no excuse for bombings, he said, and the Government did not sympathize with them. Undoubtedly they were a setback to Eire. Mr. McDermott withdrew his motion, as be was satisfied that Mr. de Valera had indicated the utter futility of outrages.