Dynamiting London’s Damaged Buildings

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 4, 6 January 1941, Page 5

Dynamiting London’s Damaged Buildings

ILLUMINATING STATISTICS OF AIR RAID DAMAGE Received Sunday, 7.50 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 3. Many more condemned City of London buildings were dynamited to-day as firemen and salvago workers continued the gigantic task of extinguishing in cipient fires and clearing up the wreckage, but a fortnight will probably elapse before the whole of tho City of London is open for traffic. All the damaged buildings except a few churches are likely to be demolished. Lovers of the city mourn the destruction of .Simpson’s in Cheapside, one of the oldest London taverns where guessing the weight of a cheese was a rite known throughout the world. The remains ol ! the great hall of the Guildhall have been partially cleared, workmen rescuing un ruined articles. Ono of the largest building societies covering a large part of the British Isles has compiled statistics of the air raids showing that out of 300,000 properties on their books 480 buildings have been destroyed, 2000 have been badly damaged, but are repairable and 7000 slightly damaged. The total dam age is under 3 per cent, and the destruction only one-sixth of 1 per cent. The Government is aiming at more and better raid shelters throughout the country. Mr. Herbert Morrison has announced that a member of the Commons, Alderman Key, who has achieved outstanding success with the Poplar (London) shelters has been appointed regional commissioner, taking charge of all the London shelters. Mr. Key intends to appoint a whole-time woman official in each region who will be responsible for the welfare of women and children in the shelters.