RAIDS ON LONDON

Hokitika Guardian, 18 September 1940, Page 5

RAIDS ON LONDON

ON MONDAY NIGHT A STREAM OF PLANES, j (United Press Association Pei Electric Telegraph Copyright). LONDON; September 17. On Monday night the raid of the German plane. l } has, been the fiercest that Central London has yet experienced. / The Germans came over in a nonstop stream; flying among clouds, regularly dropping high explosive bombs. The anti-aircraft barrage was of terrific intensity, but it did not prevent the raiders from diving to the very limits of the balloon barrage. Thousands of people during the night indulged ,in a new night-time pastime, that of “door-liopping,” in order to escape from flying shrapnel as they scurried homewards. The use Of the underground stations for shelters is being discouraged, but on Monday night thousands of people stayed on the station platforms when shrapnel made’ the streets death traps. Many people- even snatched a few hours’ 1 " sleep, despite the clattering of the trains.' in London, bombs fell on two famous West End squares. Bombs also fell in the world-famous shipping street, during London’s fifth, raid. The raid lasted for 6 hours 33 minutes on Monday night and Tuesday morning. A fireman who was tackling an incendiary bomb W an upper room in the London area was killed when the raider returned and dropped a high explosive bomb.

During a raid on the in which high qxplosives and incendiary .bombs were scattered over widely separated areas, an enemy bomber, fouled a balloon cable and crashed. One member of its crew wa s captured.

OFFICIAL REPORT.

LONDON, September 17

It is officially stated that small groups of enemy, aircraft on Monday night again concentrated on London. Many parts of London were bombed. A number of fires were started. They were speedily-extinguished. ' /

Houses and commercial buildings were damaged , and also a hospital, where there were no casualties.

Bombs were also dropped at rural areas in the Hsme countries near London. No damage resulted. -.Mi ' Towns in the Midlands, . in Wales, and ’ in the north-east and north-west of England were also attacked. Some were damaged. There were some casualties. An enemy bomber was -destroyed in the Mid!ands j after fouling a balloon cable. .

Four enemy bombers were destroyed on Monday night by anti-aircraft fire, making a total of six enemy losses for the night, ;

RAIDS ON TUESDAY.

LONDON, September 17

London’s first air raid ‘warning on Tuesday was soundod , shortly before 3 a.in. Bombs were dropped in the Central London area, where the German raiders were concentrated. Intensive gunfire was heard. The “all clear” signal was given after 94 minutes.

Bombs have been dropped in a densely populated area in. a north-west v England town, and also near a Welsh town.

GERMAN BOAST.

LONDON, September 17

According to a statement appearing in the German News Agency messages on Saturday, “London has now reached the stage when it must choose,between the fate, of Warsaw and the fate of Paris.” This typical bluster, with its shameless acceptance of responsibility for wanton destruction, however, robbed much of the sinister menace which it was no doubt, intended to convey by an earlier claim made on the Zeesen station, broadcasting jn Spanish on Thursday last, that “planes on reconnaissance over London have registered that the destruction is even greater than in Warsaw.”

GOERING OVER LONDON? BERLIN, September 16. It is officially stated that Reich Marshal Goering, last night, personally piloted a Junkers over London, accompanied by two destroyer planes.

HURRICANE AT HALIFAX

MONTREAL, September 17

A bad hurricane hit Halifax, in Nova Scotia, which is cut off from communication with the rest of. Canada. The surface winds had a speed of 70 miles an hour. SPANISH MISSION TO BERLIN. BERLIN, September 17. Sen or Suner has arrived here, heading a mission of Soanish military, political, and economic experts.