HUGH BOMBS

Hokitika Guardian, 13 September 1940, Page 5

HUGH BOMBS

USED BY ENEMY

DAMAGE TO PALACE.

(United Press Association —By Electric

Telegraph —Copyright)

LONON, Sept. 11. \

The bomb explosion at Buckingbarn Palace was one of fearful force. It flung a two-ton piece of Portland stone a distance of twenty feet, while it shattered pieces of. concrete weighing a hundredweight a distance of three hundred feet on the Palace roof. The bomb also lifted a. piece of masonry over the roof of the Palace into the central courtyard.

Eight of the stone pillars, which ar6 two feet in diameter, were broken. Three or four pieces were flung on one side.

A flight of steps on the Palace balcony collapsed. Not one pane of glass has been left in Their Majestys’ apartments. The Queen’s sitting-room on the first floor is damaged. The plaster was brought down, and the floor/ is covered with glass and debris. Their Majesties’ dressing room, and bathrooms, and the working rooms have also been damaged. A window in the Chinese Chippendale room, lias been shattered and the frame torn .out.

The Air Ministry, in a communique, states : “The majority of the bombs that have thus far been dropped on London have ranged from twenty-five ,pounds to one hundred pounds in weight. A small percentage have been 250 pounds bombs. Some thousand pound bombs have been dropped on the docks. These are believed to be the heaviest types that Germany possesses, but they are considered to be uneconomical.

KING HAAKON’S SUIT DAMAGED,

LONDON, Sep. 11

The Belgian suite, near which the bomb fell, was occupied by King Haakon of Norway.

The bomb i s believed to have been a 250-pounder. It made a canter ten feet down by twenty feet wide, forcing up stone slabs of the terrace, and broke huge columns of the swimming pool building. Masonry was sent flying into the air, and splintered glass fell over the wide green lawns. Small pieces of masonry fell on the roofs. Broken glass showered the picture gallery and the Chinese room wa« slightly damaged. Their Majesties and Mr Churchill yesterday inspected the damage. Workmen were to-day busy clearing up the debris. .

that t*e Czech bomber squadron formed in England, raided enefiny territory for the first time when they participated in a successful attack on a railway goods yard in Brussels. /

THURSDAY’S ATTACKS. A NEW DEFENCE USED. (Received this day at 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, September 12, The Strand time bomb exploded at 7.35 p.m. „ Sirens sounded in London for the first time to-day at 4.39 p.m. Planes were heard over the city but there was no gunfire and tile all clear sounded at 5.42. Sirens sounded for the second time in London at 9.17. It is authoritatively stated that last yight’s anti-aircraft fire in a form tfi a barrage was based on new, methods of a prediction. The innovation was undoubtedly successful and the same kind of defence is' likely to continue. It is hoped to improve methods with continued practice. DIGGING IN THE DEBRIS. (Received this day at 12 noon). LONDON, September 12. It is believed that fewer than a dozen were killed in Dover during yesterday’s bombing and. shelling. Rescue squads are still digging in the debris. Those- killed include a three months old baby, a sentry and also an aircraftsman who was pinned under the wreckage for hours. He repeatedly assured his rescuers. ‘‘l am all right.” but lie died when he .was freed. DELAYED ACTION BOMBS. (Received this day at 12 noon). LONDON, September 12. New Zealand House is one of a number of important buildings, which have been evacuated owing to the discovery of unexploded bombs in their vicinity. A delayed action bomb lies outside Saint Paul’s Cathedral. The area has been cleared. A bomb in the Strand, in the vicinity of New Zealand House y of large calibre. Premises damaged by raids in the past few days include Madame Tussand’s, the “Daily Herald” and “Evening Standard” offices. Tussaud’s building damaged, cabled earlier, includes the waxworks, cinema and restaurant. A majority of the wax models wore undamaged.