IN BRITAIN

Hokitika Guardian, 9 December 1940, Page 5

IN BRITAIN

HEAVILY BOMBED

BRISTOL SUFFERS AGAIN.

(United Press Association Per Electric Telegraph Copyright).

LONDON, December 7

Continuing the one-town-nightly “blitz” tactics, the German raiders attacked Bristol for several hours on Friday night, ending before midnight. Incendiary and high explosive bombs rained down on Bristol for several hours. All of the windows were shattered at the hospital when it was bombed, but the patients and staff, sheltering in the basement, were unscathed. There were a number of casualties throughout the town, including some fatalities. In one district, where many high explosive bombs fell, a number of building were demolished. A cinema was struck, and some people were injured . Elsewhere thirteen were trapped in ine house. Rescuers toiled to extricate them,, amid falling bombs. A church "was also demolished. The Air Ministry, in its communique states: ; “Most of the enemy activity on Friday night was concfihtrated on a town in the Bristol Channel (subsequently announced to be. Bristol). The attack ended before midnight. There wore' some serious fires, but prompt and efficient fire-fighting quickly l brought these under control. A number tvere' killed, ’ and others were injured.' It was later reported that early this afternoon all of th’e fires caused in Bristol had been extinguished but rescue squads were still feverishly hacking at the debris of a cinema, under which a number had been trapped and were still alive. Many shops in the working class district were damaged, together with some of the public buildings;

OTHER RAIDS ON FRIDAY.

LONDON, December 7

Apart.‘from Bristol’s raid, the raiding over Britain was extremely slight on Friday night,; the other raids easing off after the Bristol, ‘‘blitz.” . ....

Londop had ,one. of its shortest alarms of late,, ,in which it is officially stated that no bombs were dropped. *

A number of high explosive bombs fell in. Windsor Great Park. Two fell in the gardens of the Royal Lodge, breaking, the windows. There was no other damage. The King and Queen ■were absent.

The Air Ministry reports bombs were dropped in various points of southern England and in South Wales. There were a few casualties, including some killed.

Agency reports of the German raid on a south coast town on Friday night show that, although it lasted for sbnie hours- it did not assume serious proportions. The anti-aircraft barrage was intense. No’ high explosive bombs were dropped,' but 1 some damage was done by incendiaries to shop and private houses, although’ the fires caused were soon under control. !:

EDINBURGH BOMBED.

(Per British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY", December 7

A bomb has fallen on the lawn of the Palace of Holyrood House j Edinburgh. • The boiies of Scottish Kings and ’ Queens were disturbed when a bomb fell close to a ruined Abbey Chapel. Some of the Paace windows were broken.

SMALLER SATURDAY RAIDS.

LONDON, December 7

An official communique states German rhids on Saturday in Britain have been on a very small scale, and were mainly confined to the east and the south-east coasts.. Bombs were dropped in one. place in East Anglia, doing slight damage, and causing a few minor injuries, British fighter planes destroyed two enemy bombers during the day.

THE GERMAN ACCOUNT.

BERLIN, December 7

Informed quarters here state that the Luftwaffe on Friday night attacked the cities of London, Southampton, Brighton, and Bristol. Both large and small fires were observed in the harbours and in several other districts. LONDON, December 7.

The Berlin wireless reports that Bournemouth was also bombed, in addition to the places cabled earlier.

NEW GERMAN BOMBER.

LONDON, December 7

The Bremen wireless says that the new Messerschmit.t 110 ’plane has a much greater range than the Messerschmitt 109. It also is equipped with several cannon and machine-guns. It carries two members of a crew. The construction enables it to carry very heavy bombs under the fuselage. PLANE LOSSES. TOTALS TO DATE. LONDON, December 8. The plane losses since the outbreak of war have been as follows: British 1.717; German 5,161; Italian 385; Greek 12.