WEIRD GLOW

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23769, 24 September 1940, Page 7

WEIRD GLOW

NEW FEATURE RAIDS ON LONDON FURTHER DAMAGE HOUSES SUFFER AGAIN By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received September 24, 12.30 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 23 Ghastly sulphurous glows filling the sky in quick succession last night added a new feature to the terrifying nightly spectacles over London. The glows appeared to be too prolonged for shell bursts and too short for flares, although they illuminated big areas. Both aeroplane and anti-aircraft activity was exceptionally slight J during the first two hours of the night alarm, which sounded earlier than usual. Then the raiders attacked in groups of threes and fours and the barrage opened with a thunderous roll. There was not a moment's peace for over an hour. High-explosive bombs were dropped in south-oast and north-west districts. Industrial Premises The all clear sounded much earlier than usual, but after a short respite the sirens again sounded, after which bombs fell in the central London area. An officinl communique says the main "objective was again London, bombing attacks being widely scattered. Damage was caused to houses and industrial premises in several localities. There were a number of casualties, some of which were fatal. Bombs were also dropped in some towns in south-east England. In three towns damage was done to houses and there , were several casualties, including some persons killed. A few bombs were dropped in other parts of the country, causing slight damage and a few casualties. Large forces of enemy machines tried to reach London by three routes this morning. They appeared over Essex, the Thames Estuary and the coast of Kent. An air-raid alarm was sounded in London, and trails of vapour could be seen high in the sky indicating that a dog-fight was in progress. At least three raiders are reported to have been brought down in the south of England. Bombs Shatter Church The Air Ministry announced that activity during daylight yesterday was confined to isolated raids. One bomber was shot down. Bombs hit a number of houses in north-west and south-east London and damaged gas and water mains. A small number of people are reported to have been killed and injured. A church in Kent was shattered by bombs. This is the fourth church in the district to be demolished by bombs* Raiders caused further casualties in south-eastern towns in the afternoon.

"BOMB SALES" BEGIN SHOPS IN OXFORD STREET HUNDREDS OF BUSY GIRLS (Received September 23, 10.10 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 23 While a spotter watched for air raiders, hundreds of shopgirls in Oxford Street spent Saturday and Sunday clearing away bomb wreckage and arranging improvised counters for today's opening of the "Bomb Sales." These sales will be a feature of Oxford Street this autumn. TUBE RAILWAY SHELTER (Received September 23, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 23 Work has begun in converting the Holborn-Aldwych section of the Piccadilly Tube into a deep air raid shelter. It is intended to instal bunks, but the use of the shelter will be limited to those who are not able to obtain comparative safety elsewhere. AIRCRAFT LOSSES HIGH GERMAN FIGURE LAST WEEK'S TOTAL 280 LONDON, Sept. 22 The Germans for the week ended midnight on Friday lost 280 aeroplanes. Britain lost 69, including 12 bombers over Germany and occupied areas. Italy lost 11.

The respective losses for the whole war are now 4385 German aeroplanes, 1313 British and 197 Italian.