NIGHTMARE SCENE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20507, 18 March 1941, Page 11

NIGHTMARE SCENE

BOMB IN DANCE HALL MANY KILLED AND HURT BLAST WRECKS BUS BODIES HURLED TO ROAD (Eloc. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. March 17, 2.40 p.m.) LONDON, March 16. Many people were killed and injured when a bomb directly hit a dance hall in the London area last night. The blast overturned a trolley bus, which was set on fire and burnt out. A rescue worker said: “Most of the passengers in the bus were killed. It was like a nightmare.” Pedestrians sheltering in doorways added to the death roll. There were between 100 and 200 dancers in the hall, mostly young regular patrons of the weekly dance. A huge gap was torn in one end of the hall and bodies of soldiers and girls were flung on to the roadway. Rescuers worked throughout the night to extricate the victims. Several of those injured died in hospital.

Another bomb wrecked a bank on the opposite side of the street and damaged a public house. A number of men were sent to hospital.

In last night's raid, which was mainly directed against the south-eastern area, including London, the enemy again encountered heavy antiaircraft fire. One enemy aircraft was probably destroyed. After the engagement the engine was heard to cut out and the aircraft dived steeply towards the sea. An observer corps post in the vicinity confirmed the report of a loud crash into the sea shortly afterwards. It is likely that the aircraft was destroyed, but it will be classed only as a probable Unless further confirmatory evidence of its destruction is forthcoming.