NIGHT BOMBING PROBLEM

Grey River Argus, 11 September 1940, Page 5

NIGHT BOMBING PROBLEM

No Counter Yet CIVILIANS HAVE TO “STICK IT.” (Received September 10, 5.5 p.m.) RUGBY, September 9 The opinion expressed in informed circles in London to-day was that until means of dealing adequately with night bombing have been evolved, which is a problem occupying close attention on the part of both British and German experts, civiliaii morale is the most important single factor in war to-day. A judgment, even by neutral journalists of the German morale is difficult, and perhaps impossible, to obtain. The cruel Gestapo effectively prevents expression. In Britain very different conditions have prevailed. Views are treeiy propounded. The reaction to recent experiences is easy to a’ssess. Consequently, views of neutral observers in Lonaon afford valuable evidence of how the ordinary “man in the street” is standing up to the German aerial attack, and a valuable guide in estimation how the battle for world freedom is progressing. Such observers obtain the free opinion of free people. A broadcast yesterday, by an American journalist, Mr. John Mac Dane, is of interest, and importance: “It was,” Mr. Mac Dane said, “pretty unpleasant during the second raid, Because everyone felt they were right on the target. But during it all, ambulances and trucks kept on roil-1 I ing up to the shelters, these taking' aboard twenty and thirty women and children, and rolling away again with them. The spirit of the children was nothing short of wonderful. The people who lost their homes and relatives were not happy, but I saw hundreds of women and not one was crying. One policeman looked at lines of homeless people. Then he spat disgustedly and said: “To think that we give those Nazi airmen tea when they land here!” The wife of a pubkeeper, who had a pub not more I than three or four hundred yards | from the docks, said: “I was going to celebrate our forty-first wedding, anniversary to-night, and my old man was going to take me out to supper. I guess I’ll have to celebrate here.” Then she laughed and called for ,v round of drinks for the customers.” Critical Month PROBLEMS OF DEFENCE. RUGBY, September 9. The present month is regarded in' informed quarters as probably the most-critical period of the war. Having suffered considerable losses in daylight air attacks, the Nazis now appear to be concentrating on night bombings especially on London. They are carrying out these operations with a much-smaller number of aeroplanes, and of course with a farhigher degree of immunity. The attacks of the last two nights were probably assisted by the only successful day attack—that of Saturday afternoon —-which the German ..Air Force has yet succeeded in obtaining, and then only at a very great loss. London, however, as well as other centres of highly-concentrated population, must face the certainty of a continuation of night bombing. It is pointed out that the problem of the interception of the night bomber has not yet been solved, although British experts are hopeful of reaching a satisfactory answer before th? Germans are able to do so. Meanwhile, it is stressed that an efficient black-out) is the best defence. Taking last night’s raids as an example, authoritative cricles explain the difficulties which were encountered by the defence, both interceptor and ground. So far as interceptors are concerned, their task of finding an opponent flying in darkness at 300 miles per hour is obviously very difficult. THE KING’S DISTRESS. RUGBY, September 9. The King to-day made a threchour tour of areas in east and southeast London, which suffered most from the. enemy bombing. His Majesty, who travelled up from Windsor specialty to make the; tour, commented upon the wonderful bravery of the people in these areas, who, though many of them were rendered homeless and suffered personal bereavement, appeared to be cheerful and gave the King the warmest reception. At many places which the King visited A.R.P. workers were still hard at work, and His Majesty had occasion to congratulate the various services for their good work and courage.

Later, the King drove to a road where a huge bomb struck and completely destroyed a row or eight houses. The King clambered up the huge pile of debris in front of the crater 75 feet wide and 50 feet deep. Dirt-begrimed A.R.P. workers were still searching here for bodies, and one man showed the King a big piece of the bomb.

The King saw many other buildings, a big block of. flats, which had moved one yard as the result of a bomb explosion but which had not fallen down.

His Majesty has sent a message to Mr Emil Davies (Chairman of the London County Council), expressing the distress with which he heard the news of the air-raids on September 7. He added that the suffering people in London and elsewhere were much in his thoughts. Mr Davies, acknowledging the message, assured His Majesty that the people remained constant in then’ loyalty and fortitude.

U.S.A. Red Cross Aid FOR LONDONERS (Received September 10, 8.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, September 9. The U.S.A. Red Cross has ordered the immediate purchase in London of twelve mobile canteens, each composed of eight vehicles, at a total cost, of sixty-five thousand dollars. These canteens could be used to rush hot foods to the bombed areas. Since May last, the U.S.A. Red Cross has sent to England 151 ambulances, five million surgical dressings, 2,138,000 dollars worth of medicines, thousands of pounds weight of canned and dried foods, and 470,000 pieces of clothing.