LONDON DAMAGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23818, 20 November 1940, Page 5

LONDON DAMAGE

LESS THAN IMAGINED FORTITUDE OF PEOPLE LACK OF SOCIAL RECREATION The extent of London is so vast tliat notwithstanding the persistent and heavy bombings it has suffered writers of letters received by air mail insist, that, except in certain areas, the effects of the aerial bombardment are not generally visible. "It would be possible to tour the bulk of London, cutting out a few by-streets, without observing anything serious," writes a principal of a manufacturing firm in London. It is admitted that London's West End shopping centre has suffered. News of an inspiring instance of the attitude of London shop employees has been received by a Queen Street departmental store. The big London store of D. H. Evans was heavily bombed. While firemen and Air Raid Precautions workers fought the flames above, several hundred shop assistants, mostly girls, sat calmly in the basement awaiting orders from their departmental heads. It was to be expected that many of London's historical monuments would have war scars, but the majority of the damage in London was of little consequence and could easily be restored. Casualties were the distressing factor. "One could not, liaye anticipated that it would be possible to carry on in business under the aerial warfare of the past few months," says 0110 writer. "But we have become so acclimatised that wo now endeavour to abide by our daily routine. Naturally, social recreation is not practicable, because the dusk to dawn raids make it imperative to be at home for that, period, as the flying metal pieces from the barrage make movement dangerous "For a time we may have to live our lives and carry on our work under strange conditions, but they are conditions to which we are confident the British characteristics of fortitude and adaptability will not be found unequal. The spirit of our people is the assurance of ultimate victory."