VICIOUS ORGY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24605, 13 May 1941, Page 7

VICIOUS ORGY

THE LONDON BLITZ TRAGIC DESTRUCTION MANY PATHETIC SIGHTS LONDON, May 11. Saturday night's raid is described by an eye-witness as easily the worst Louden lias yet sufTcred. The German High Command states that it was a reprisal for the R.A.F. bombing of Berlin. A tour of London this morning revealed the tragic destruction of buildings. shops, and homes. Londoners grieved to find some well-known buildings unrecognisable. Heaps of wreckage of one ancient building were blazing. The building bore the date 1669. People emerged from shelters and gazed wonder-eyed at the destruction and searched vainly for the usual buses, which in some cases were diverted to other routes. A number ot streets were railed off where necessary to clear the debris. There were pathetic sights in little streets of small shops where families lived overhead. Even though they were not bombed or set on fire, the effects of the blasts achieved the same destructive purpose of windows blown out and interiors wrecked. Much damage was done to important buildings in the centre of the capital, and some were completely destroyed. Among the famous buildings hit were the British Museum, Westminster Abbey, and the Houses of Parliament. The House of Commons debating chamber was so badly smashed that it may never be used again until icbuilt. Big Ben was also hit. The air raid alarm sirens sounded again in London to-night. Damage to the Abbey Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and "Westminster Hall were all seriously damaged by high explosives and incendiaries in last night's raid, while Westminster Abbey was set on ire. It is understood that in the House o Lords Captain E. L. E'holt the resident superintendent, was killed a his post while assisting m file-fighting. Two policemen and one custodian weie also killed. Other members of the stall Who worked throughout the night extinguishing the flames and salvaging valuable records and relics had vernal kable escapes. The debating chambe of the House ot Commons was wrecked nicrccd the magnificent roof ot wes minster Hall and damaged the interior. The face of Big Ben was blackened and scarred but although the apparatus broadcasting the chimes throughout world was put out of action for a time. the hands of the clock went on tellur iho lime lo Londoneis. The Deanery of Westminster Abbey one of the most perfect mediaeval i -in England was destroyed, and srK K *h« >.•»« in but the dollies Iho, ;;.L tiSTnT dmngc by »der, but the most historic parts are unmpued, and the fabric of the Abbey «s intact No lerepamblo damage was: bone In i“,.bcc.r l^r ;Ss, - a " d (he precentor were burnt om Morbid Sightseers Crowds of sightseers walking the s SS suburbs, being morbidly curious, and they crowded out the few icstau rams which were kept open or men and women who weic fighting dames ali night. Thev .also overbu - dened the transport serviecs and som even loured the bombed aicas m taxis. Several streets, although not dangerous. were roped off to allow defence workers lo carry on. 7 • , A civil defence official said thoic were even cases of sightseers from suburbs gato-errshmg free food K. Ichens put up for nconle bombed out of their homes THE GERMAN VERSION (Roc. 8 p.m.) BERLIN. May 11The Official Agency said that late reports of bombings in the Midlands last night indicated exceptional successes. An important fuselage plant of a motor works in Coventry was destroyed by direct hits. Low diving planes smashed two aluminium plants in Birmingham. The same agency reports that submarines have sunk 29.800 tons of shipping in the North Atlantic in the past few days.