LONDON WELL DEFENDED.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 203, 29 July 1941, Page 5

LONDON WELL DEFENDED.

NAZIS’ BOOR RESULTS.

(Bee. 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, July 29.

London's first aid raid lor three months found the defenders tuily prepared. The guns had been manned, the barrage balloons soared skyward, A.U.P. workers were at their posts, and the rescue and demolition squads were ready. After long and uncveutiul nights ail went into action the moment tiie warning was given.

*- The raid, aecoruing to reports from l - the outer districts, must huve covered 11 a vast expanse of the metropolis, bos sides Central London, where the drone of engines was several times clearly hoard. The scene from a high window ' in Central London, was as enthralling as in the earlier raids, with gun flashes " lighting up the sky in rapid succes- “ sion. Only the glare of fires was luck--15 ring, and the raiders seemed to he able " to penetrate the anti-aircraft barrage " I only occasionally with single planes * | A stick of bombs fell on residential ’ property in several roads in one dis 3 trict, killing a number of people and injuring several. A family of four were killed in a shelter. Another bomb 1 1 fell near a Convent school which, lur- ' tunately, hud been evacuated, j Many people had their first expert ! ence of taking cover, London being : I more crowded than at any period since i September mainly with provincial visi- | tors holiday-making. Many evacuated Londoners had also returned since the ' quiet nights. SILENT BOMBS. Sfune Loudon areas felt the familiar earth tremor of an exploding l>omb, hut the explosion was not p/eceiled by | the familiar whine or screaming sound. Others report a number of oil bombs which flung enormous flashes of lire into the air. Six trapped persons who were found dead in a house which sustained a j direct hit consisted of three women and ! three children.

William Allen, aged 16, went to his father’s room in a big block of workers’ flats when the raid began and asked: “I)o you lliink we had better get up?” Before receiving an answer a bomb fell outside the flats. The blast killed William, but his father was not hurt.

Twelve of 14 persons were killed in the London area when their shelter received a direct hit. Six of a family who were buried six months ago were again buried, one being killed. Two brothers, their sister, and two broth-ers-in-law were killed when another shelter was wrecked.

A German communique refers to the bombing of London as a reprisal for repeated attacks against the residential quarters of German towns. Tiie German News Agency says that string forces of the Luftwaffe last night successfully carried out an attack on London harbour works and docks. The crews reported that many fires were seen west from the Thames Loop.