Bristol Heavily Blitzed

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

Bristol Heavily Blitzed

FAIRLY HEAVY" DAMAGE CAUSED Received Sunday, 9.20 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 4. An Air Ministry and Homo Security communique referred to a prolonged attack on Bristol. ‘ * Considerable damage was done to buildings by high explosives and by fire. A number of people were killed or injured but it is not anticipated the total will be high. ” The communique said bombs were dropped on other parts of England and caused slight damage but no casualties. Hundreds of high explosives and incendiaries were rained on Bristol with full Blitz intensity. Firemen aud rescuers continued to work as the bombs foil. There wore minor casualties.

Cue hospital was damaged by high explosives aud another hospital was directly hit but nae evacuated without casualties. Four firemen and two soldiers were killed by bombs early in the raid.

Fairly heavy damage was done to Bristol including four churches and four schools. High explosives demolished six houses in oue street trapping several persons. Rescuers are working feverishly to release them. Many fires started in tho residential area were quickly extinguished. The “all clear” was sou.fldcd oa Fri-

day night at 10.30 p.m. Fire-spotters are credited with saving scores of buildings by snuffing out incendiary' bombs. Few high explosive bomtw were dropped but one severely damaged & hospital. Another hospital, a nursing home, a clinic, a convent, a cinema, an hotel, three schools aud & commercial building were also hit.

Elsewhere the raids died down towards morning after early w ideepread attacks mainly directed on Bristol. Other raids at many points throughout Britain were chiefly of the nuisance

variety. Informed German circles state that m addition to dropping bombs of all calibres “with good results” on Bristol German planes fast night attacked a number of other towns including

Southampton. An Air Ministry and Home Security communique issued on Saturday evening says: “Since the last communique was issued reports received show that a small number of persons were kmed and others injured by bombs at one jhiuii in the London area last nignt. Eueiuj

air activity in this country to-day warconfined to one or two attacks by single aircraft near the east and south-east coasts. In one of these oombs were dropped on a Kent coast town causing some damage and casualties. “Attacks oa German-occupied territory for the week ended January 3 were less frequent on account of weather conditions but sixteen raid*, were made on docks and shipping, including two of the three successive assaults on Bremen. “Lorient w'aa visited four times and a lowflying attack took place on Flushing. Enemy aerodromes also received attention. During the week seven Bri tish aircraft were lost and one Junkers bomber was destroyed.”