APE-LIKE FRENZY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 139, 14 May 1941, Page 7

APE-LIKE FRENZY

THE RAID ON LONDON. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Alay 12. Deeply stirred by the Nazi bombers’ wanton destruction, Londoners are, however, accepting the situation calmly and with dignity. The people’s demeanour is reflected in the entire Press. “A further attempt at terrorisation,” says the Times, "was met again with indomitable courage and a resolution which knows no wavering, 'that resolution is now fed from the i deep spring ol indignation and the ever-hardening conviction of what is staked upon victory over the enemies of civilisation." The Times pays a I special tribute to the fire-fighters. The Daily Telegraph stresses the striking way in which the mechanism of the public services in the whole metropolitan area proved equal to the emergency needs. “Frightfillness will not readily admit defeat and will develop every form of horror it can invent, ’ the paper says, “but the past assures us that it will always be baffled by the "grim and gay’ British temper of our national capacity for meeting the need of the hour.” General satisfaction, meanwhile, is lelt at the destruction of the 33 raiders on Saturday night and it is keenly appreciated that to fly over British cities in moonlight is an increasingly hazardous venture for tne enemy.

I The wanton attack on priceless 5 monuments of British history such as Westminster Abbey and Westminster I Hall is still the subject of indignant ’ comment and photographs in the Press i of the damage emphasise one description that the attack on London on , Saturday night wa.s “as indiscriminate as the frenzv of an ape.” J AIORAL' OF NAZI LOSSES. The moral of the German losses is ; pointed out by the Evening Standard, . which says: "It is probable that the , Germans reckon their heavy losses in the night battles throughout this month more in the numbers ol airmen killed or lost than in the numbers of machines forfeited. Those airmen are specially skilled. Indeed constantly tnroughout this war pilots have had

to acquire new skill. Alost German airmen were at first trained for cooperation with the land forces. They have since had to learn an aptitude for air warfare over the sea and by night. Our own night-fighting pilots have been called upon to bring their prowess to a yet higher pitch. In their hands and brains reside our most precious possessions. “Victory in the end may be achieved by the side which can mass the greatest number of skilled airmen. If that be the test wc should not quarrel. The youth of Britain and America can outmatch that of Nazi Germany both in individual comparison , and numbers. The Democracies nave a potential superiority. It is their business by planning training schemes on the largest and swiftest scale to make that superiority decisive.” Apart from the graceful outlines oi the doorways and windows the House of Commons might be the ruins of a factory, so complete has been the destruction of the woodwork and fabrics. Practically all • the windows in the Lords’ Chamber were, blown out. A member of Parliament found, in one of the wrecked lobbies a cabinet containing the signatures of Gladstone and Disraeli. To-day is the fourth anniversary oi the Coronation, and the place in West minster Abbov where the King ami Queen sat in ‘their robes is a heap cJ rubble and broken wood. Two women drivers of American ambulances were killed. 1 hoy had defied "the bombs to tend the injured during the raids. DAMAGE TO CHURCHES. Air Sidney Berry, secretary of the Congregational Union, revealed that t>3 London churches had been slightls damaged by bombing, 50 badf.v damaged, and 28 completely destroyed. Seventy-seven churches elsewhere in I Britain had been slightly damaged, 50 badly damaged and 33 completely do- I stroyed, , , ! Tne Earl of Suffolk and six soldiers| were killed on Alay 12 by a bomb. Lord Sempill’s daughter June, aged 19, was killed while awaiting a call I to duty with the women’s volunteer service.

HOUSE OF COAIAIONS MEETS. LONDON. Alav 13

Although the House of Commons met in new premises to-day, the ceremony lacked none of its traditional ritual, even the Alace having been brought from the damaged buildings at St. Stephen’s for the purpose. The Prime Alinister (Air Churchill) revealed that a third building was being prepared for the use of the House should the present premises he rendered untenable, so that the business of Parliament should go on as usual.