FULL FURY OF LUFTWAFFE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 2 January 1941, Page 5

FULL FURY OF LUFTWAFFE

LONDON’S SEVERE ORDEAL SPIRIT OF HISTORIC “SQUARE MILE” “WE WON’T CRACK UP” IU P A -By Electric Telegraph-CoDyright] LONDON, 30th December. London has emerged from the ordeal of the Luftwaffe’s attempt last night to destroy the heart of the capital by fire with a heightened spirit of determination to take advantage of the experience by putting into effect measures to minimise the dangerous results of any future onslaughts of the kind. But the outrage makes abundantly clear that however many hordes of German bombers rain incendiaries and high explosives on the City, the spirit of the historic “Square Mile” will never be broken. “The Times” says: “Bravery was common on this astounding night.” It would seem that the German mind, drilled in brutality for many years past, can feel some sense of shame at their unholy vandalism, for in the latest account given of the raid by the German radio all reference to historic buildings and churches destroyed was eliminated. MR CHURCHILL INSPECTS RUINS Standing amid the ruins in “the City,” Mr Churchill snapped a grim rebuke to a woman who shouted: “What about peace?” He replied: “Peace? When we have beaten them?” Then Mr Churchill walked through the scenes of devastation caused by the deliberate attempt to burn London regardless of military objectives. “They gave us something last night, didn’t they, Winnie?” a man called. “And we will give them something back,” Mr Churchill retorted. A great crotvd followed Mr Churchill and his wife as they walked among debris that a few hours earlier had been some of the most hallowed shrines in the world. The people cheered and waved their hats. “We won't crack up, sir. We won’t crack up,” a flustered little man cried. “No sir, we won’t crack up!” said Mr Churchill. GUILDHALL IN RUINS The Prime Minister found the Guildhall in ruins. The four walls of the banqueting hall stand bare to the skies, the stone floor on which kings have walked is buried under debris, and the mighty figures of Gog and Magog are burnt, as also are some famous tattered regimental flags. The richly-decorated council chamber is burnt out, with the roof blasted open and the painted ceiling destroyed. Fortunately, most of the treasures had previously been removed. St. Bride’s Church, in a courtyard off Fleet Street, was set alight early in the raid. Only blackened walls and the magnificent tapering tower and spire, generally regarded as one of Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpieces, now remain. This slender spire, originally 234 feet high but later lowered by eight feet, is one of the most impressive features of London’s skyline. OTHER WREN CHURCHES HIT Voluntary helpers worked splendidly to subdue the flames and salve the furnishings, but almost as soon as they left the building the roof crfished in. Another Wren church which was completely gutted was that of St. Vedast Foster. It is one of the less important of the 50 churches which Wren rebuilt after the Great Fire.

Irreparable loss has been suffered at another Wren church—St. Lawrence Jewry—owing to the destruction of some of the most beautiful and valuable wood-carving of the cele brated Grinling Gibbons which formed part of its decoration.

Another Wren church whicth represented ond of his most striking experiments in the adaption of Gothic design to the classical impulse is that of St. Mary Aldermary, which has been reduced to a shell by last night’s raid, and yet another, St. Andrew-by-the Wardrobe, shared a similar fate.

Three hospitals, one museum, several schools, commercial premises, shops, and offices were more or less seriously damaged in fires.

People to-day crowded into St. Paul’s, offering prayers and thanksgiving for its preservation, which was one of the most heroic feats of the professional and volunteer fire-fighters. The other buildings damaged include the Old Bailey, the Criminal Court, the ancient hall of the Girdlers’ Company, the School of Music and the Carlton Club in St. Swithin's Lane.