State Non-Stop Offensive Against London Started .

Northern Advocate, 25 February 1944, Page 3

State Non-Stop Offensive Against London Started .

(Rec. 11 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 23.

During last night’s raid on London, four high explosive bombs fell on a working class estate and caused heavy casualties when they directly hit two of three five-storeyed blocks of flats. A high proportion of the casualties, the total of which is not established, will be children. Few residents went to underground shelters because it was too cold. Members of the Pioneer Corps in the afternoon joined rescue parties and still are recovering bodies from wrecked buildings. The scene in the vicinity of the shattered flats resembles a battlefield. People yjith bandaged headd are pushing perambulators piled with their belongings. Two large cranes are helping to shift the debris, which in some places is over 12 feet high.

Goebbels’ View

The Stockholm “Afton quotes military commentators in Berlin stating that a non-stop offensive against London has now started. Goebbels, writing in “Das Reich" says: “With bombing’, the British and Americans are trying to ease the heavy task confronting invasion troops. Their air attacks are not worrying us. We don’t envy the Anglo-Americans the risks they will be running when they attempt a large-scale, perhaps an alldecisive, invasion. Military developments will reach a climax in Western Europe, where the war probably will be decided. A Daylight Alert

The first daylight alert in London for seven months sounded as ( Londoners were going to work. Many stood in the streets and watched two unidentified planes fly over the city at a great height leaving vapour trails. The planes were surrounded by white puffs from anti-aircraft shells. The Press Association’s aviation correspondent says that enemy planes apparently came over to photograph last night’s damage. No bombs are reported to have been dropped. Priceless antiques and art treasures from all over the world were destroyed in one London district during last night’s raid. High explosives considerably damaged the area. Treasures Destroyed

Although last night’s raid appeared on a small scale and less sharp than the previous night, bombs dropped on various part of London area were mostly incendiaries which were unloaded in showers. Hundreds fell on one district setting fire to a large block of flats, a garage, a factory and a number of houses. Firemen fought the flames for more than two hours. In another district, houses on both sides of the street were alight for a distance of 200 yards. High explosives, it is reported, caused heavy casualties. In another district one hit a row of terraced houses in a well-known London street. New Bomb, New Tactics

Gunfire last night was heavy but not as heavy as in recent raids. The raiders appeared to come in in small numbers, flying fast and high. They released clusters of flares and a number of high explosives, incendiaries and flares. Paris radio says that German bombers raiding London last night, for the first time used a new oil bomb, which is much more powerful than the old one.

The German News Agenfcy says commanders of German bomber formation are full of ideas built up during last month and are putting them into operation. New forms of attack proved particularly effective against certain military objectives in the London area.

“Wedge” tactics also were used to pierce London’s heavy defences. During these tactics the planes fly in wild geese formation. Radium Treasure Hunt The “Daily Mail” says a treasure hunt is progressing in the ruins of a bombed London hospital for two containers of radium, worth £3OOO. The search is being led by the “dowser,” who works with the contraption, consisting of a long tube holding a Neon lamp to which battery head-phones care connected, called the “clucking hen,” also an electroscope. When radium is near the “clucking hen” emits a clicking sound and the electroscope flickers. The dowser explained that the diminished the activity of radium to one-sixteenth of normal, for- which reason is was not easily detectable under the rubble.