GERMAN “BLITZBOMBING”

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 9 December 1940, Page 5

GERMAN “BLITZBOMBING”

BRISTOL AGAIN OBJECTIVE HIT SCORED ON CINEMA EFFORT TO SAVE TRAPPED VICTIMS [U.P.A.-By Electric Telegraph-Copyright] LONDON, 7th December. Continuing the one-town nightly "blitz” tactics, raiders attacked Bristol last night for several hours, ceasing before midnight. Elsewhere in Britain the raiding was extremely slight and eased off after the Bristol blitz. London had one of the shortest alarms it has experienced recently, in which it is officially stated no bombs were dropped. It was reported early this afternoon that all fires in Bristol have been extinguished. Rescue squads are still feverishly hacking through the debris of a cinema, under which a number of people are trapped and still alive. Many shops in a working-class district were damaged, together with some public buildings. There were a number of casualties throughout the town, including fatalities. Incendiary and high-explosive bombs rained down on Bristol through the raid. All windows were shattered when a hospital was bombed, but the patients and staff, who were sheltering in the basement, were unscathed. In one district, where many highexplosive bombs fell, a number of buildings were demolished. Elsewhere 13 persons were trapped in one house and rescuers toiled to extricate them amid falling bombs. A church was also demolished. SOUTH COAST BARRAGE Reports of a raid on a south coast town last night show that though it lasted some hours it did not assume serious proportions. The anti-aircraft barrage was intense. No high-explos-ive bombs were dropped, but there was some damage by incendiaries to shops and private houses, though the fires were soon under control. An Air Ministry communique states: “Most of the enemy activity last night was concentrated on a town in the Bristol Channel (subsequently announced to be Bristol). The attack ended before midnight. There were some serious fires, but prompt and efficient fire-fighting quickly brought these under control. A number of persons were killed and others injured. Bombs were dropped at various points in southern England and south Wales, and there were a few casualties, in-, eluding some persons killed.” British fighters destroyed two enemy bombers during raids on Britain today, which an official communique states have been on a very small scale and mainly confined to east and southeast coasts. Bombs were dropped in one place in East Anglia, causing slight damage and a few minor casualties. NAZI AIR COMMUNIQUE [U.P.A.-By Electric Telegraph-Copyright] BERLIN, 7th December. Informed quarters state: The Luftwaffe last night attacked London Southampton, Brighton and Bristol. Large and small fires were observed in the harbours and in several other districts. Two German planes belatedly reported that they had made forced landings in France and that the crews were safe, reducing the German losses yesterday from seven to five. The Berlin wireless reports that Bournemouth was bombed in addition to the places mentioned. It adds that enemy torpedo-carrying planes flew over the Reich, two of which were shot down. (Received 9th December, 11.50 a.m.) LONDON, Bth December. The latest German communique is mainly a repetition of the alleged results of air raids on Britain on the night of 6th December. It says that British r’anes last night flew over occupied territory, and also western Germany. Several bombs were dropped on three factories but they caused insignificant damage. Six persons were killed and several wounded. PERFORMANCE CLAIM OF NEW MESSERSCHMITT LONDON, 7th December. The Bremen wireless says that the new Messerschmitt 110 has a much greater range than the Messerschmitt 109, and also that it is equipped with several cannon and machine-guns, carries two members of a crew, while its construction enables it to carry very heavy bombs under the fuselage.