WANTON GERMAN RAIDS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 11 December 1940, Page 5

WANTON GERMAN RAIDS

SUNDAY’S ATTACK ON LONDON GOOD WORK BY CIVIL DEFENCE SERVICES [U.P.A.-By Electric Telegraph-Copyrteht) LONDON, 10th December. Though between 200 and 300 bombers in the raid on Sunday night unloaded their cargoes over practically every borough of London, the experience and determination of the civil defence personnel reduced the casualties and damage far below those in the comparable attacks in September. The raids started a thousand fires, but with almost miraculous speed these disappeared before they had a chance of gaining a hold. The wantonness and brutality of the raid has given a fresh and wider impetus to the demand for reprisals in kind.

The “Daily Mail” and “The Times” declare that Germany has dropped her last pretence of aiming at military targets. The “Daily Mail” says: “A point has been reached where we must ask whether our humane policy is encouraging the Germans to bomb British civilians. If the answer is yes, then our own survival demands the bombing of the German populace to teach them that their foul game does not pay.” “The Times” says: “Such an indiscriminate night attack against a great city represents the lowest depth to which the art of war can fall. It was a typical example of destruction for destruction’s sake. Hitler has apparently decided that any weapon even remotely affecting the British war effort must be tried.” The only enemy air activity last night was sporadic raiding of the south coast of England. No raiders were seen over Britain during the day yesterday, though it was officially stated that R.A.F. fighters shot down an enemy bomber in the North Sea in the afternoon. There has been only slight activity to-day and a communique states: “A few enemy aircraft approached our coasts singly during the day and some penetrated into east Kent. Reports received indicate that only two bombs were dropped and these caused little damage and no casualties.”