PLYMOUTH BOMBED.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 96, 22 March 1941, Page 7

PLYMOUTH BOMBED.

MANY FIRES STARTED.

NAZIS' CHIEF TARGET. ( United Press Association.—Copyright.) (Eec. 11 a.m.) LONDON", Mar. 21. The Air Ministry says that enemy activity last night was on a much smaller scale than of late and was divided between Portsmouth and London. The attack against the former, though not of long duration, succeeded in starting a number of fires, mainly among business premises.

Some fires were serious but all were under control by the early morning. The attack on Plymouth began in the. usual manner, thousands of firebombs raining down. The raiders came over the town at two and three-minute intervals, unloading high-explosives. Flares were occasionally dropped, but the ground defences shot them down before they could be of much assistance to the raiders. Three churches and a cinema, were hit. The majority of the population seemed to have gone to the shelters before' the raid started. However, it is feared the casualties are heavy. According to a New York- message, United Press advices state that the Luftwaffe poured down perhaps 10,000 incendiary bombs and hundreds of high-explosives. Many homes, offices, and shops are smoking, crumbling ruins.

The German News Agency said strong bomber formations attacked the harbour works and military objectives of Plymouth. They set fire to a bis ship. The attacks on London and airfields were also successful.

A Berlin message states that officials declared that Wednesday night's raid on London was the real beginning of the spring offensive, the objective of which is complete starvation of the British Isles.

An Air Ministry and Ministry ol Home Security communique says: There is very little- to report during daylight to-day. Early this morning a single raider dropped bombs on a place on the Kent coa.st. Little harm was done and no one was seriously injured. Bombs wore dropped in the evening on two places in Norfolk. No damage or casualties are reported and there have been no other reports of bo lulling.