DANCE HALL

Grey River Argus, 18 March 1941, Page 5

DANCE HALL

BY ENEMY BOMB Saturday Night’s London Raid [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] i LONDON, March 15. London was the chief target oT the German air attacks on Saturday night. There was some damage to homes, but all lines were- soon put out. Man v were killed or injured when a bomb hit a dance hall in the London area, last night. The blast overturned a trolly-bus, which was set on fire and burnt ous, 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 209 dancers in the hall, mostly young Tegular patrons 'of (the weekly dance. A huge gap was torn in one end of th e hall, and the bodies of soldiers and girls were flung into the roadway. Rescuers worked throughout the night to extricate the victims. Several of those injured died tn hospital. Another bomb wrecked a bank on the opposite side of the street, and damaged a public-house. A number of men were admitted to hospital. Bombs were also dropped, in the Home counties, in s.ouch and southeast England, and in the Midlands. There was som e damage but it was not heavy and there were few casualties.

SUNDAY QUIET. RUGBY, March 16. The absence of enemy air activity over Britain to-day is dealt with by an Air Ministry and Home Security communique, which states there is nothing to report, ENEMY PLANE DESTROYED. RUGBY, March 16. The War Office report regarding anti-aircraft activity in last night’s raid, which was mainly directed against the south-eastern area, including London, states: The enemy again encountered heavy anti-air-craft fire- and one enemy aircraft was probably destroyed. After -an engagement, the engine was neara to cut out and the aircraft dived steeply towards the sea. An Observer Corps post in the vicinity confirmed the report of a crash into the sea shortly aftrewards. It is likely that ■the aircraft was destroyed, but it will be classed only as a probable, unless further confirmatory evidence of destruction is forthcoming . West England Bsitz ON SUNDAY NIGHT. [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.j (Received March 17, 11-55 p.m.) LONDON, March 17. The Air Ministry in to-day’s communique states: Enemy aircraft attacked a town in the West of Eng land on Sunday night for some hours. “There was considerable damage caused by explosives and also by fire, but all of the fires caused were under control early this morning. The casualties included some killed. “Bombs were also dropped in other districts, causing slight damage and casualties FURTHER DETAILS. (Received March 17, 11.55 p.m.) LONDON, March 17. Several houses were destroyed in the West of England blitz on Sunday night. Four persons who were buried were all extricated and taken to hospitals. The raiders dropped frequent flares, many of which ground mach-ine-gunners extinguished in midair, finding aim by tracer bullets.