REALITIES OF TOTAL WAR

Evening Star, Issue 23863, 18 April 1941, Page 5

REALITIES OF TOTAL WAR

A.R.P. OFFICIALS WORK LIKE TROJANS CITY AREA SUFFERS HEAVILY LONDON, April 17. (Received April 18, at 8 a.m.) The Associated Press special correspondent stated: “This great raid brought back residents with a jolt to the realities of total war, which the lull of the past few months was inclined to force into the background. Some bombs directly hit shelters. I heard the wife of a hard-bitten Canadian major ask an hotel waiter for a double brandy for her husband, saying, ‘ He has been pulling out bodies from debris and feels rather washed out.’ A.R.P. officials worked like Trojans. . . , “ A Canadian soldier, grimy and perspiring, approached two Associated Press members, stating, ‘Give us a hand with this hose. 1 think we can pu'i out that fire. 1 am lending a hand. We are all in this.’ Then the three men from the dominions struggled, uncoupling and dragging hoses to the fire. Certain Australian and New Zealand news organisations were thankful to be able, as a precaution, to evacuate their building—ordered by the authorities—and to walk from their office to an hotel; while the Germans flew overhead and anti-air-craft guns barked and bombs fell. “Awed and- silent suburban residents going to the city are scarcely able to believe that this is the London of yesterday. Taxi drivers are uncommunicative and morose. Even the sight «f a tailor’s dummy dressed in officer’s uniform astride a grand piano failed to produce a smile among workers picking their way. A.R.P. officials are feverishly working to recover trapped people, for whom there is little hope. “ In the main thoroughfare electric standards have been torn up and flung across the streets, while in a florist’s shop window stood, undisturbed, a vase of English roses.”