Bomb Effects In England

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 264, 4 August 1944, Page 5

Bomb Effects In England

“As the war approaches the end of its fifth year, and perhaps its closing phase, I conic to the end of my military survey at home here in famous, mighty London." the Prime Minister continued. "London, with the surrounding counties—broadly these arc the bombing highway—have been under almost, continual bombardment for seven weeks. By our calculation. 5339 of those robots have been launched upon us. They have killed 1-735 persons, and 1-1.91)9, more or loss, have been seriously injured or very slightly injured, 'file result has been a sad tale of human sorrow, suflering. ami wholesale destruction at home, with- all the dillieult circumstances attaching to that." Mr. Churchill said that countermeasures against, the robots were being pressed to the utmost, and he was sure that (he wonderful patience and courage of (he people of Britain would continue to lhe end. "I no longer feel bound to deny that victory may perhaps come soon.” he added. “If not. we must go on till it. docs."

About 17.090 houses had been totally destroyed, and about, 809.000 damaged. One could judge the efficiency of the measures taken by (he Ministries involved by the fact that three-quarters, or upward of (100.000 houses, had already been made habitable again, and in the last six weeks the rate at. which repairs

had been overtaking new damage had been very successfully increased. Nearly a million people who had no war business here, among them 225,000 mothers and children, had been evacuated. A large number of extra trains, hud been laid on to meet this considerable outward move. It was remarkable as showing the outlook of the people that many trains had come back nearly as full, as they went out. While daring adventure was to be commended, this kind of movement would be discouraged, but it gave the lie to the most fantastic stories of the Germans that London was in flames. ’l'ho only result of the use of this weapon by tlie Germans would bo that the severity of tlie punishment they would receive after their weapons had been struck from their hands by our fighting men would be appreciably increased. There was no question of diverting our strength from the prosecution of the war or allowing this infliction iu any way to weaken our support of our allies. Though hundreds of the best expert brains were riveted on the problem, he could hold outi no guarantee that it would be completely solved till we occupied the regions from which, the bombs were launched, as we should' no doubt do. Rocket Bomb Threat. Mr. Churchill said it was possible that attempts would be made with long-range rockets containing a heavier explosive charge than the flying bombs and intended to produce a great deal more mischief. London, it might be expected, would be the primary target, on account of the probable inaccuracy of rocket weapons. The Government, therefore, advised classes for Whom evacuation facilities had been provided, and others who had no war tasks in London, to make their own arrangements to leave the capital in a gradual and orderly manner. It was. by no means certain that the enemy had solved the difficult technical problems connected with the rocket, particularly aiming, but none the less he did not wish in any way to minimize the ordeal to which they might be subjected, except to say if was not one they would not be able to bear. From the evening of June 15 to the end of July it was estimated that the weight of the flying bombs launched upon England was 4500 tons. In the same period the Allied air forces were dropping 48,000 tons of high explosives on Germany. Of course efforts had been made in the main to hit military objectives, whereas this weapon had no other object than indiscriminate slaughter of the civilian population.