Air Raid Bedlam Breaks Out In Portsmouth

Northern Advocate, 12 March 1941, Page 6

Air Raid Bedlam Breaks Out In Portsmouth

(Received 1 p.rp.) LONDON, March 11. OEDLAM BROKE OUT IN PORTSMOUTH AREA LAST " NIGHT WHEN A HEAVY BARRAGE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE NOISE OF SCREAMING AND EXPLODING BOMBS AS A CONSTANT PROCESSION OF RAIDERS FLEW OVER THE CITY.

Thousands of incendiary bombs were dropped and at one stage the countryside was lit up for .miles. Business premises set on fire yesterday were again set alight.

Many houses were demolished and the occupants trapped

Heroic Rescue Squads,

Rescue squads worked heroically and extricated three persons from collapsed houses ahd a number of private shelters. A surface shelter was directly hit. but there were only two casualties. Three persons were killed in. another public shelter, which was damaged. A first-aid post was hit, but only five persons were slightly injured. Some reads were blocked and the trolley bus service interrupted when overhead wires were brought down. The • town lost two more churches, while others, including a synagogue, were damaged. It is authoritatively stated that three enemy bombers were destroyed

last night, one and possibly twoj being destroyed over Wales.

Lasted Six Hours.

An Air Ministry communique states:

“Enemy activity last night was mainly over South England, where a coastal district was the chief target.

“The attack began soon after dark and continued for about six hours.

“Buildings were damaged and fires started at several places. A number of persons were killed. “Bombs were also dropped in a few widely separated points elsewhere. “There wa§ little damage .‘and few casualties."