ALMOST NORMAL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 264, 5 October 1940, Page 7

ALMOST NORMAL

LIFE IN LONDON.

I: , KITTLE RAIDING

(United Press Association —Copyright.) (Rec. 9 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 4. As the result of an unusually early all-clear signal, London had an almost normhi morning. Newspapers and milk were delivered earlier, transport was prompter, and crowds went to work with less difficulty.

Two heavy bombs were dropped in the central and north areas, and only one bomb was dropped in the southeast area. The latter demolished three houses from which three bodies were recovered. Enemy air activity was on a smaller scale last evening. Tho weather conditions were very unfavourable and the attacks were almost entirely confined to the London area. A few bombs were also dropped in other parts of South-East England and in two places in South-West England. There was little damage in the areas affected and the number of casualties was very small. , The night raiders fumbled about the sky in a thick grey mist and were clearly uncertain where they were. They dare not come down low as the anti-aircraft batteries have improved and the balloon barrage is now greatly higher. Even parachute flares were useless. . ~ This was the first occasion since the blitz-bombing started that two all-clear signals had been sounded before dawn. The raiders had bombed 13 districts in London and the Home Counties, and Central London was quiet for long periods.

SHELTERS INSPECTED. Admiral E. R. G. R. Evans carried out another tour of London’s air raid shelters last nig'iit lasting several hours, accompanied by Mr Malcolm MacDonald and Lora Horder icuaitman of the committee which is advising the Government on the shelter question), also Mr Mabane (Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry o Home Security). The tour mciuaed the tube stations, including Holborn and Liverpool Street, and tne many types of public shelters in the city, Finsbury, Holborn, and Bethnal Green. Admiral Evans and party talked freely with the people, wardens, and shelter marshals. He was immediately recognised by those in the shelters and was often cheered for several minutes. The visit ended at the I msbury Town Hall in the early hours while the anti-aircraft barrage was in lull blast, and shrapnel was falling round the party as they drove away Mr Eden yesterday toured the units of the AVestern Command, visiting an infantry training centre, a new mxtalion. and anti-aircraft searchlight sites. He also watched brigade exerCI No large-scale enemy . activity developed to-day, hut during the _ni tuning and early afternoon, states the Ai Ministry and Ministry ot Home Secur ity, a number of single enemy aircraft flying in cloud were scattered Num hers of bombs were dropped m hap hazard fashion, mainiy oyer SouthEast England. Some fell m built-up areas, causing a certain number of casualties, including a few-fatal. A second bomber was shot down by oui fighters early in the afternoonLondon to-day experienced its longest daylight warning, single planes continuing to circle overhead mostly in the suburbs, where a number of incendiary bombs wero dropped. Six raiders in the afternoon dive-bombed a south-east centre, directly hitting the front of an histone castle. Ihej demolished two streets, and craters were left in several roadways, while a number of fatalities were caused A solitary bomber dropped two whistling bombs m a South-East Coast town, smashing church windows and causing several fatal casualties. Hie raiders in the morning dropped a number of explosives in the lower reaches of the Thames.

MURDER OF CHILDREN.

SCHOOL MERCILESSLY BOMBED

LONDON, Oct. 4

The Germans yesterday afternoon chalked up at least six more child victims' of terror warfare. They were seven-year-old pupils of a Midlands school which was dive-bombed, and they included three evacuee girls and a cripple boy. About 400 children attend the school. The attack was so sudden that there was no time to move the children into the sandbag shelters in the playground. Many of the shelters were severely damaged. Some of the children were probably saved by being told to lie on the floor before the explosion. A.R.P. workers rescued many of the children .and lac tory workers from beneath the wreckage. Germany has now been forced to admit that the bombs which were dropped on Eire in August were German. A German statement says that investigation showed that the bombs really were dropped from a German plane which had lost its direction. Therefore" the German Government will express its regret to Dublin and promise compensation for the damage. The bombs were dropped on three points in County Wexford. A creamery was wrecked and three girls were killed. Six days previously a German plane had crashed in Eire. At the beginning of August an Irish steamer was bombed and damaged by a German plane off the coast of Cork. FOOD EOR LONDONERS. MOSTLY IN GOOD SUPPLY. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Oct. 3. German propagandists are spreading reports throughout the occupied countries that the machinery for distributing- food in London has broken down. The purpose of these reports is somewhat obscure, unless it is an endeavour to discount the Nazis own inability or refusal to carry out an equitable food distribution for the populations for .which they are responsible. Jn fact there is no shortage of most foo dand none of essentials in the London shops. So true is this, that those persons whose ordinary shops at which they were registered have been bombed by the Nazis and have been given “rover coupons” entitling them to draw on supplies at any other shop. Other suj\>lies are fully equal to the demand, and also the meat ration has recently been increased, showing that there is no difficulty about the food distribution in London, which is the main target of Nazi terrorism.