SEVERE LONDON RAID

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 82, 31 December 1940, Page 8

SEVERE LONDON RAID

Germans Try To Set Fire To City FAMOUS BUILDINGS DAMAGED A.R.P. Services Taxed (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. Copyright.) (Received December 30, 9.10 p.m.) LONDON, December 29. The Germans tonight carried out one of the severest raids of the war on London, dropping tens of thousands of bombs, including, incendiaries, on almost every section of the metropolitan area. Explosive bombs hit a town hall, museum, two hospitals and two churches. The fires taxed the emergency services to the utmost. The all-clear sounded shortly before midnight. LONDON, December 30. Last night the Germans tried to set lire to the City of London by dropping large numbers of incendiary bombs. When people went to work this morning the ruins of some of the tires caused were still smouldering and other tires were still burning, thougn all were under control before the morning rush started. 'The Air Ministry confirms the impression that the German bombing was a deliberate attempt to set lire to the City without any attempt to single but military objectives. To some extent the effort succeeded and damage was caused to many famous buildings, including the Guildball and several churches. St. Paul’s Cathedral was again threatened, but nearby fires were extinguished in | time.

British fighter aircraft went up to intercept the raiders and drove them off. The sound of the British engines had a tonic effect on the men of the A.R.P. services, who were having a strenuous time. tLTse British lighters saved at least one. area from the salvos of high-explosive bombs which the Germans usually drop after they have released their incendiaries. London’s fire services worked heroically throughout the night. ‘ln spite of the heavy damage to simps and offices, casualties were not high. These latest German tactics only confirm, said a radio commentator, that the rulers of Germany, taken aback by the stubbornness of British resistance, are still floundering about without any fixed policy. Their bombings are no reply to the British air attacks on vital German war indusI ries.

A raid on a south-western town on Saturday night was. the town’s 240th raid ami left hundreds of people homeless. Over twenty fires wqre raging simultaneously, but all were controlled. Nine bodies have been recovered from rhe debris of two houses. All the shops, which totalled CO, in one street, were damaged by fire or blast. A crowded bus was hit by an incendiary bomb, but the passengers scrambled out before the bus became a huge blaze. Incendiary bombs were scattered over such a wide area tlmr cottages were set on fire some miles »w»ni the town.

On Saturday night nondonors enjoyed a quiet lime with no raid. Last evening’s Air .Ministry and Ministry of Home Security communique states: ’There has been some slight enemy activity over this country during daylight today. Bomos were dropped on a town on the Suffolk coast this morning and on two towns on the Kent coast this afternoon. Some houses were damaged but no casualties are reported. Bombs were also dropped at a place in north-west England. A small number of people were killed and others injured.”