RAID REPEATED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23830, 4 December 1940, Page 10

RAID REPEATED

SOUTHAMPTON AGAIN CASUALTIES TOTAL 370 LARGE AREAS IN RUINS THOUSANDS HOMELESS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received December 3, <>..">o p.m.) LONDON, Dee. 2 The Air Ministry announced that 570 people were killed or seriously injured in the Southampton raids on Saturday and Sunday nights. The' first reports of Sunday night's ettack indicate that the Germans repeated the previous night's tactics. "With undiminished violence, wave after "wave of raiders attacked the town, continuing their mission of brutality until early on Monday morning, and leaving large areas of the town in ruins. The business area was again the main (Objective, but the suburbs were also assailed. Many private houses were demolished and a number of fires started, but these were well under control by daybreak. The Germans dropped high explosive bombs while firemen were tackling the outbreaks. Food and Shelter Emergency measures were taken immediately to minimise the dislocation of food supplies. Temporary accommodation was found for thousands of those rendered homeless. Hundreds of ■workers arrived at their places of employment this morning and found them destroyed. Some Southampton residents were killed, but the casualties are believed to be fewer than on Saturday night. Not a single house in one road escaped damage. Half were set on fire. Some streets are impassable. Hundreds of steel-helmeted members of the Pioneer Corps are tackling demolition work, causing the town to rock frequently on Monday as masonry *md timber fell. Comirfunal Shelter Hit Most of the casualties probably occurred., in a communal underground shelter,, which was directly hit by a heavy bomb. Rescuers are still extricating the bodies. As night fell in Southampton on Monday, rescuers were working feverishly in the darkness to remove further evidence of the week-end's fury. Pitiable crowds' of homeless people throughout the day had searched the ruins of their homes , for valuables before seeking asylum in other Hampshire areas. The roads were crowded with pilgrims. Reorganisation went on unceasingly in a tremendous effort to clear the streets and evacuate homeless families in order to facilitate rescue work if the Germans returned to the fray for the third night. Accommodation on outgoing buses for some hours before the j Blackout was heavily taxed and it be- j came a case of "women and children ! first." . Additional buses were requisitioned | End private car owners did their j utmost ,to relieve the congestion.

HUGE SEA OF FIRE OFFICIAL GERMAN CLAIM SCENE FROM FRENCH COAST (Received December 3, 6.50 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 2 A German communique refers to the second raid on Southampton and other localities on Sunday night, but' gives no details. It claims that GO large and numerous small fires were started on the previous night, when Southampton was merged into a huge sea of fire. It says British aeroplanes at dawn bombed residential districts on the German coastal area. The German news agency reported on Monday night that there was a thick mass of smoke and flames over Southampton, where the oil tanks were believed to be on fire. The smoke and flames were visible from Cherbourg. The agency claims that Hastings was heavily bombed on Monday and that many fires were started. LIVERPOOL ORDEAL RESCUE WORK PROCEEDING YOUTH BURIED UNDER DEBRIS! (Received December 3, 0.50 p.m.) / LONDON, Dec. 2 Further details of Liverpool's worst raid last Thursday reveal courage on the part of the victims and unremitting labours by rescuers. A youth, still alive under tons of debris, was found 50 hours after bombs j Lad demolished working-class houses, i The rescuers began digging within half j an hour of the explosion., and the j wounded and killed were slowly brought | to the surface. The rescuers continued j their work all Friday and Saturday, recovering further bodies, and then, early on Sunday, faint moans were heard. A rescuer clambered through a tunnel and found the youth. A doctor crawled to the victim and administered an anaesthetic. The youth was taken to hospital, but later died. Rescuers are still searching and clearjug away debris. SCATTERED TARGETS NORWAY AND DENMARK SHIPYARDS ALSO BOMBED i British LONDON". Dec. 2 An Air .Ministry conim unique says that on Sunda\ morning aircraft of the Coastal Command attacked a military camp at Christ iansund. in Nora\. Bombs toll along the waterfront, damaging buildings, and others damaged warehouses on th" quayside. Another aircraft of the Coastal Command successfully attacked the gasworks at Fsbjerg. in Denmark. An explosion followed the bombing. No Royal Ail I'orce aircralt were lust in these operations. On Monday night British bombers attacked shipbuilding yards at Wilheunshaven. All the raiders returned. NEW AERIAL DEVICE WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 The. United States Army Air Corps has released to the Royal Air Forfe a magnesium light device which enables Sight photography in enemy territory.