GERMAN RAIDS

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 December 1940, Page 5

GERMAN RAIDS

HEAVIEST ON LONDON WORST FOR THREE WEEKS {BY CABLE. —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, December 29. A town in south-west England suffered a short, sharp German raid shortly after nightfall on Saturday. A few fires were started but they were soon under control. There was no excessive damage and few casualties. Two hospitals were hit. The bombers came over in two waves. On Friday night, enemy bombers concentrated mainly on London, where, an official communique states, many bombs were dropped in a raid beginning soon after dark, and lasting about four hours. The “all clear" sounded late after the worst raid on the capital since December 8. Scores of high explosive bombs and hundreds of incendiary bombs were scattered over a wide area. The raid had all the features of being the worst “blitz.”' In spite of bursting bombs and a heavy barrage, Londoners, carried on as usual. Buses and trains ran an uninterrupted service, and the main thoroughfares were never completely deserted. A number of persons were trapped in an underground shelter in a large block of London workers’ flats. Eleven were rescued after two hours. A middle-aged invalid woman is believed to be still under tons of debris. Her husband was killed, and her daughter was admitted to hospital. Most of those rescued were injured. A woman in an adjoining shelter said: “We could hear screams for help, but though only a single wall divided us, we were powerless. Some men tried to hack a way through, and were using picks when an A.R.P. official advised them to cease because of the danger of collapse of both shelters. We were unable to leave ours until debris was dug from the entrance.”

A London parish church, according to Press reports, was destroyed through being hit by a number of incendiary bombs. The church seats 1000 people. In an adjacent thoroughfare, a heavy bomb destroyed a hotel and a number of houses nearby were wrecked.

A few bombs were also dropped in East Anglia and south-east England and at one point on the south coast. A number of people were killed and others injured. Many dwelling houses were destroyed or damaged. There were several fires, but all were quickly and effectively dealt with, and many were extinguished while the raid was still in progress. Southampton was visited by German bombers on, Friday, according to a communique, which states: “There Was very little enemy air activity over Britain in daylight on Saturday, but bombs were dropped by enemy aircraft over Southampton in the afternoon, causing little damage and few casualties.” SOUTH-WEST,TOWN BOMBED LONDON, December 29. Londoners enjoyed a quiet night on Saturday. There was no raid. A south-west of England town was not so fortunate. Successive waves of planes dropped bombs on. it for over van hour. / .Two hospitals were hit. Four were injured. Many premises were shattered in the shopping area. A cinema was set afire. Six adjoining cottages were demolished. The total casualties were comparatively small.

MANY FIRES RAGING.

(Recd. Dec. 30, 12.5 p.m.). LONDON, December 29.

A raid on a south-western town, last night, was the town’s 240th raid. Hundreds were rendered homeless, and over 20 fires were raging simultaneously. All were controlled. Nine bodies were recovered from the debris of two houses. All the shops, totalling 60, in one street, were damaged by fire or blast. A crowded bus was hit by an incentliary bomb, but the passengers scrambled out before the bus became a huge blaze. Incendiaries were scattered over such a wide area that cottages were set on ’fire some miles from the town.

DAYLIGHT ACTIVITY.

RUGBY, December 29.

This evening’s Air Ministry and Home Security communique states: There has. been some slight enemy activity over this country, during daylight to-day. Bombs 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 were injured.

“MOST TERRIFIC ONSLAUGHT.”

(Recd. Dec. 30, 12.5 p.m.). LONDON, December 29.

The Germans, immediately after dark to-night, launched their most terrific onslaught against London. With thousands of incendiaries raining over all parts of the capital, dozens of fires blazing and illuminating the streets, and hundreds of highexplosives being dropped, the blitz reached tremendous proportions, and was continuing at 8.15 p.m.

MANCHESTER FUNERAL LONDON, December 28. Manchester accorded a civic funeral to seventy-two victims of its recent air raid. The Bishop of Manchester and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Salford conducted the services. The coffins were draped with Union Jacks. Buglers sounded the “Last Post.”

MANY R.A.F. ATTACKS.

NORWAY TO BORDEAUX.

LONDON, December 29. Attacks on German invasion bases from, the Norwegian fiords to the Bay of Biscay were continued by the Royal Air Force last night. The German submarine base on the French coast at L’Orient was the main objective, the attack there being severe and long-continued. L’Orient has been bombed day and night for three days. On the Norwegian coast, Hudson aircraft attacked and sank a Gernian supply ship in Egersund. Skua aircraft attacked enemy shipping and harbour works in the iHaugesund area, north of Stayanger,

states- an Admiralty communique. One enemy supply ship of 4000 tons, lying, alongside a jetty, was hit and set on firfe by a bbffib from a machine piloted by a New Zealander. ‘Hits were also scored on jetties and. warehouses. One of the enemy’s anti- . aircraft guns was silenced by ma-chine-gun fire. All our machines returned safely. The Bomber Command bn Friday raided bases in occupied France from which Germany attacks shipping in the Atlantic. The chief objectives were L’Orient, and an aerodrome hear Bordeaux, from, which Germany sends some of her heaviest bombers oyer ocean trade routes. * A communique detailing the raids states that the Royal Air Force attacked targets in the docks of Cherbourg and L’Orient, and an aerodrome at Bordeaux. At L’Orient, stores, barracks, dry docks, and a power station were bombed, and at Cherbourg the docks were straddled. At Bordeaux, bad weather made it difficult to find the target, but many bombs were seen to burst among the hangars. The St. Inglevert aerodrome and shipbuilding yards at St. Nazaire were also bombed.

The British programme of minelaying in enemy waters has continued. In all these operations two British aircraft are missing. The Air Ministry states that two attacks werd made in daylight on Saturday on L’Orient by coastal command bombers. Hits were observed, arid all British machines returned safely. British daylight raids are being intensified, while German raids on Britain become fewer and fewer in face of British fighter opposition. Berlin now faces the coldest weeks of Winter short of coal, owing to the disruption caused by Royal Air Force raids on the Ruhr. Some of the main thoroughfares of Berlin have been closed for days as a result of air raid damage.

At the great port of Hamburg, no shipping is moving, owing to the destruction of harbour works.

FURTHER DETAILS

RUGBY, Dec. 29.

The Air Ministry News Service states: Last night was very dark ana cloudy, but aircraft of the Bomber Command were able to continue the attack on the submarine base at L’Orient. The raid, which was fairly heavy, lasted for a little more than an hour, beginning about seven o’clock in the evening. The pilots often had to wait for low clouds to pass, but when they did, it was possible to see bursts on the banks of the river, where the docks, slips, and factories of L’Orient are situated. What one pilot described as a very large fire followed the explosion of one stick of bombs.

The docks at Boulogne were also attacked, though the weather was equally unfavourable. All the bombs were seen to explode alongside the Basin Loubet.

The harbour at Cherbourg was also raided, and a small force went to bomb the docks at Antwerp and Rotterdam. At Rotterdam, our aircraft were fortunate enough to find a patch of clear weather.

SUBMARINE BASE.

RUGBY, December 29.

The Press gives prominence to the fact that observers on the Channel coast, last night, were able clearly to see the progress of the relentless R.A.F. bombing attacks on the French invasion ports, described as the “greatest of all raids” on these targets. Attacks were also delivered on enemy coastal positions in the Low Countries.

At the same time, the Press emphasises the importance of the unremitting attacks on the L’Orient submarine base, which is the chief German port for Atlantic raiding. Again last night, L’Orient was bombed after two raids during the day, and heavy attacks on Friday night. The repeated bombing, last week, of the Merignac aerodrome, near Bordeaux, from which the Nazis send some of their heaviest bombers against British sea routes, as well as the attacks on L’Orient, have produced expressions of satisfaction that the “hornets” which try to sting British shipping are being continuously harassed in their nests.

NAVAL GUNS’ TOLL.

LONDON, December 29

Anti-aircraft guns of the Royal Navy and other vessels have accounted for 192 enemy machines since the beginning of the war. This figure is confirmed, states the Admiralty, and it is believed that a further 91 were destroyed and 100 damaged. LOCKHEED GIFT PLANE RUGBY, Dec. 29. A Hudson bomber, named “The Spirit of Lockheed and Vega,” has just arrived in Britain from America. This machine was presented by the managers and employees of the Lockheed Aircraft Coy. and the Vega Airplane Coy. It is a gift to the British nation.