ORDEAL IN RAID

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23928, 31 March 1941, Page 8

ORDEAL IN RAID

ME, JIENZIES' STOEY RELIEVING THE TENSION MIMICRY BY LADY ASTOR LONDON. March 'Jii "I found it the queerest oxperi ence," said the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. Menzies, when (idling the story <d' Ill's ordeal during the Lonißing of Plymouth. "No longer will I Believe thai I here is anyone who is not frightened by concentrated bombing. "I had just started dinner in a certain house when the raid began. Lady Astor and Mr. W. E. Routes, president of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, were among my follow guests. The dinner broke up and we descended into the basement. It seemed well protected, but it was not. Before long it began to tremble. "There vtas a high window, protected bv sandbags, but as each bomb exploded it swung open and grinned at us. Lady Astor and I started a spirited political argument. That seemed a good idea. Anyhow it kept our fellow shelterors amused. "The bombing grew worse, I seemed to be talking more than I ewer talked before. Then Lady Astor took the stage with a magniiment performance of mimicry of certain well-known persons. We had plenty oi diversion from the noise outside. "Once or twice I sneaked up and had a look at what was going on. If was hideous, but I have never seen such an amazing spectacle. I saw building after budding lit up by tire until the glare from the flames grew so bright L could plainly pick out every detail ol the town and its surroundings. "It was most extraordinary. 1 don't know what I expected, but there it was —first-hand experience of the real thing. Some of us went down the burning streets immediately after the 'allclear' sounded, but I had a 'tin-bat' jammed on my head. I did a quick duck when two delayed action bombs exploded in quick succession near by. "We saw many pathetic sights, such as piles of household chattels heaped in the streets, and elderly people being let! away dazed by shock or wandering aimlessly through the ruins. "But I am convinced that Hitler cannot win the war this way The overwhelming reaction of the people is simply anger. I believe that public opinion in Britain will eventually demand that the Germans drink their own medicine RESIGNATION DENIED RUMANIAN PRIME MINISTER FRICTION WITH GERMANS i Rci'd. a.m.) ISTANBUL. March no According to news from Bucharest the Buinanian Prime Minister, Anton cseii. has resigned as result oi i xeosdve demands by Ki!linger the Oermau Ambassador, says an independent French news agency despatch. These were related to foodstuffs, especially meat, which Killinger is reported to have demanded from Hu mania for German troops in Bulgaria making necessary rationing in Rumania. with throe meatless days a week This incensed the population. Officials in Bucharest deny that Antonoscu has resigned, although friction with Killinger is admitted. The Government has confiscated all the property of Madame Lupescu. says a Bucharest, cablegram. Her estate is estimated at 1'120,000. Decrees have also been published confiscating the property of Iron Guards RACING BAN IN EIRE (Heed. p.m.) DUBLIN, March -Jts Owing to the spread of foot and mouth disease, the Fire Department of Agriculture has banned horse and dog racing, polo, bunting and coursing throughout Eire.