STUNNED AND SAD

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20488, 24 February 1941, Page 5

STUNNED AND SAD

SWANSEA BLITZ THIRD NIGHTS ORDEAL FIRE FIGHTERS’ COURAGE FIERY ONSLAUGHT TREK BY HOMELESS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—Unitnd Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 10.30 a.m. RUGBY, Feb. 23. For the third successive night Swansea was raided in the early pari of Friday evening, the attack lasting about 3j’ hours. An official - communique states: “Fires were started and damage was done to houses and business property. The casualties included some killed.” Swansea on Saturday was stunned and sad. Much has been destroyed, but much remains. Some disorganisation is inevitable, but the main arteries of local government are functioning as well as can be expected under “frontline conditions.” The trek of the homeless began before daybreak, but the minds oi these people are not wholly concerned on their own losses because they could not forget the magnificent work of the civil defence services under the fiery onslaught. Intensive Attack The raid on Friday night was 3J hours shorter than the previous two. but was much more intensive. The raiders arrived shortly after dark. Flares fell in all parts of the town, but the main showers of incendiary bombs did not come down until the high explosive bombs had been dropped. The raiders then flew over Swansea in constant waves, dropping flares, incendiary and high explosive bombs simultaneously. The work of the Swansea fire-fighters greatly reduced the effect of the fires caused by incendiary bombs. The people showed great fortitude amid the wreckage of their homes. It is officially stated that it is now known that one of the German bombers which raided the west country on Friday night was shot down by anti-aircraft fire,' and was seen to crash in flames by the pilot of a Hurricane fighter. Little Damage Caused A communique states that there was some activity over East Anglia for a short period during Friday night. A few bombs were dropped, some of them in the London area. No great damage was done and the casualties were few. A communique issued by the Air Ministry on Sunday states: “There was little air activity on Saturday night. Bombs were dropped in several places in eastern England causing some damage. A small number were killed. Later reports show that a small number were killed yesterday when bombs were drqpped on a town in south-west England. Enemy planes dropped bombs on a coast town in the north-east of Scotland. Little damage was done and there were no casualties.” It is reported that raiders appeared over a north-east town shortly after dusk and adopted the usual method of first dropping incendiary bombs, but these were quickly extinguished by fire-watchers and the fire services before any damage was done. Bombs which fell near a housing estate caused only slight damage to three houses and injured some of the occupants. Nobody was killed. Other high explosive bombs fell in open spaces and did no damage. Patrol By Fighters

Great patrol activity near the southeast coast was a feature of the air hews over Britain on Friday.

It was reported from the coast that in several hours’ brilliant flying weather, British machines circled high overhead on guard against Nazi raiders.

An official communique states that in addition to the enemy bomber destroyed over the west country on Friday night by anti-aircraft fire, a second enemy , bomber was destroyed near the Bristol Channel early on Saturday afternoon. Some bombs were dropped during the day mainly in east Kent but, according to reports so far received, little damage was caused and casualties were few. There had been considerable patrol activity both by British fighters and by enemy machines near the coast during the day. One enemy fighter had beep shot down.