PLYMOUTH’S FIRE “BLITZ”

Grey River Argus, 16 January 1941, Page 5

PLYMOUTH’S FIRE “BLITZ”

ON MONDAY NIGHT Casualties Light [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] LONDON, January 14. German raiders dropped firebombs and explosives on Plymouth for nearly three hours lasF night. Several fires broke out, a number of buildings were damaged, and some people were killed and injured. With a deafening roar, 30 bombers opened a raid on Plymouth last night. Thousands ~of incendiaries, together with high-explosives, were dropped, but the casualties were remarkably light, considering the severity of the raid, although much damage was done to property. Waves of raiders continued to bomb the town for three hours.

Hospital patients had a miraculous escape when a bomb demolished the walls and ceiling of the women’s ward. One young girl was killed. Another hospital was damaged by a direct hit.

A cinema audience held an impromptu concert, which lasted until the raid ended. One bomb fell close to the cinema but the audience showed no panic. When the raid began an usher went on, the stage and began to sing. Two soldiers with mouth organs followed her, and soon the audience joined in community singing. Others in the audience did turns on the stage. Plymouth is carrying on this morning, and the shopping streets are thronged as usual. London was free from raiders on Monday night, but German aeroplanes were reported over Wales and other districts. Little damage was done and few persons were injured. TUESDAY’S QUIET. RUGBY. January 14. Regarding air operations over Britain, an Air Ministry and Home Security communique states: Nothing to report during daylight to-day.

No Raids ON TUESDAY NIGHT (Received January 15, 11.40 p.m.) LONDON, January 15. The Air Ministry and Plome Security Ministry issue a communique which states: “There is nothing to report.” DR. JOHNSON’S HOUSE DAMAGED. RELICS SAVED. RUGBY, January 14. Many relics of Doctor Johnson, the eighteenth-century man of letters, escaped harm, when his Gough Square house ’as damaged in the big fire raid on London. The custodian of the house, in the first week of the war, removed valuable' prints, paintings and first editions, and stored them in waterproof wrappings in a large trunk in tne basement. •«. • .»> ■

Forced by the fire to leave the cottage—the lodge house, —the custodian returned later, and retrieved the trunk which had begun to till with water. It is now in a place of safety. Although the walls of the house still stand, the interior and most of the historical furniture was badly burnt

BOMB-SHOCK CASES

And Shelter Neurosis PROVISION IN BRITAIN. I Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.l (Received January 15, 7.40 p.m.) LONDON, January 14. The “Daily Telegraph” says: “The experience gained in the Spanish war is helping the Ministry of Health and the London County Council to combat the cases of civilian bomb shock and cases of shelter neurosis cases in the same period.” He adds: “Shellshock is far less frequent than in the last, war.”

“The Daily Telegraph” continues: “The Ministry of Health, after the outbreak of the war. 'organised a nationwide network of mind hospitals. It has been found that one of the frequent causes of war neurosis is the fear of being thought to be afraid. Research shows that wardens, members of the auxiliary fire service, and other defence workers are far less susceptible to war neurosis than those who are idle during the air raids.”