ROYAL VISIT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23758, 11 September 1940, Page 10

ROYAL VISIT

BOMBED AREAS KING'S SYMPATHY CIVILIAN CORPS PRAISED By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright British Wireless LONDON, Sept. 9 His Majesty the King to-day made a three-hour tour of areas in east and south-east London, which suffered most from the enemy bombing. His Majesty, who travelled from Windsor specially to make the tour, commented upon the wonderful bravery of the people in these areas, who, although many of them were rendered homeless and suffered personal bereavement, appeared to be cheerful and gave the King the warmest reception. At many places which the King visited, A.R.P. units were still hard at work, and His Majesty had occasion to congratulate services for their good work and courage. Later the King drove to a road where a huge bomb struck and completely destroyed a row of eight houses. He clambered up a huge pile of debris in front of a crater 75ft. wide and 50ft. deep. Dirt begrimed A.R.P. workers were still searching here for bodies and ono man showed the King a big piece of a bomb. The King saw many other buildings, including a big block of Hats, which had been moved ono yard as a result of a bomb explosion, but which had not fallen down. His Majesty subsequently sent a message to Mr. Emil Davies, chairman of the London County Council, expressing the "distress with which he heard the news of the air raids on Saturday," and added that the suffering people of London and elsewhere were much in his thoughts. Mr. Davies, in reply, assured His Majesty that the people remained constant in their loyalty and fortitude. The Prime Minister, Mr. Churchill, toured the Fast End late yesterday afternoon and talked with homeless people. He viewed the damage and said he wanted first-hand news of the happenings. Hundreds cheered him, in spite of their own troubles. FIRES IN EAST END BLACK-OUT A "MOCKERY" SINGING IN SHELTERS LONDON, Sept. 10 "Great fires burning in the East End are making a mockery of London's black-out," stated Mr. William Forrest in a broadcast last night. The raid was still in progress when Mr. Forrest broadcast, and he said that in spite of the havoc wrought by Naxi savagery, Londoners retained their calmness and confidence. Mr. Forrest said that, dodging bomb splinters and taking refuge in shelters here and there, it had taken him two hours to cover the last mile and a-lialf to Broadcasting House. He came all the way on foot and was breathless when he first spoke. In one shelter in which he took refuge there were about 200 people, and they were all singing well-known songs, except three men and a woman who were engaged in a very serious game of bridge. They were all waiting for the all-clear, which would signal the end of the German cold-blooded terror, j They had already been in the shelter ! seven hours. i Until midnight he had watched the I raids from the roof of a newspaper office | in Fleet Street. All the newspapers had watchers on the roofs of their offices, whose duty it was to give a warning when the raiders came dangerously close. There were 13 such warnings in the few hours that he was in this particular office. "The heart of the great Empire on this night of its great ordeal is beating hard and strong," Mr. Forrest concluded. MANY WORKERS LATE DIVERSION OF TRAFFIC LONDON. Sept.. O .Londoners, sleepy-eyed but stouthearted, went to work to-dny determinedly. Nevertheless, many were late owing to traffic difficulties in some areas. People living in districts which had not been bombed quickly idealised the happenings elsewhere when they saw unfamiliar buses which had been diverted to avoid craters or debris littered on the roads. Some workers were obliged to change buses three or four times. The proximity of bombers forced newspaper staffs to abandon their work and, in consequence, printing was extremely late. Distribution was also delayed by interruptions on some of the usual routes. DAMAGE TO MAINS PROBLEMS OF COOKING LONDON, Sept. 0 The damage to gas mains and electric cables in some areas in Lotidon has prevented residents in these areas from cooking. Tinned meat is to be made available in butchers' shops for people who are not able to cook. One man who found himself without power for cooking solved his difficulty. He was seen frying sausages over a burst gas main which was on fire. EFFORTS FOR PEACE MESSAGE FROM VATICAN NEW YORK, Sept. 0 The Pope has informed President Roosevelt in a message carried by Mr. Myron Taylor, United States Ambassador to the Vatican, who lias just returned to America, that the Vatican is doing everything in its power to halt the war in Epropo and to establish a just and enduring world peace. It is pointed out that the nature of the statement extends little basis for hope that collaboration between Mr. Roosevelt and the Pops could produce j any prospect of immediate peace* I