BLITZED LONDON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24825, 27 January 1942, Page 6

BLITZED LONDON

PHOTOGRAPHS OF DAMAGE A NOTABLE COLLECTION PRESS CLUB GIFT Stark, graphic and terrifying is a collection of enlarged photographs sent from the Press Club, London, to the Newpaper Proprietors’ Association of New Zealand. These 64 photographs, each in its way a masterpiece of the photographer’s art, illustrate in a striking manner the damage which has been done by enemy bombing raids on historic buildings, city memorials and streets familiar to all who know their London.

In a letter which accompanied the gift portfoloi of photographs, the chairman of the Press Club (London), Mr W. H. Salmon, wrote:

“The Press Club sends its greetings to fellow Journalists in the Dominion, and asks them to accept a gift of the accompanying set of photographs depicting something of the damage inflicted on the capital city during recent months. They are sent to you in no sense as a signal of distress. London has suffered grievous damage to its precious historic building, its churches; schools, hospitals, streets and the homes of rich and poor alike. It can take all that, and more if it comes. They are sent with the purpose of bringing home to the Empire overseas, more forcibly than perhaps has yet been realised, the true character of Nazi bombing with all its wanton destruction of objectives that are dear to the heart of our people, but cannot possibly be claimed as of military value. Many examples will be found in this collection.”

A message from Colonel J. J. Astor, M.P., the president of the Press Club and chairman of The Times Publishing Company, and chairman of the Empire Press Union, also accompanies this valuable pictorial gift. This is as follows:

■ “The Press Club recently held in its premises in Salisbury square an exhibition of London fire photographs which aroused very great interest. In the belief that these pictures would have a similar effect in other civilised countries it was decided to offer sets of them to press clubs, press galleries and kindred centres in the Empire, United States and South America, and in the Far East. They seem to call for little comment. They speak for themselves of the wanton and deliberate destruction of historical buildings, monuments, and records, of architectural treasures which are irreplaceable, of the private property even of the humblest homes of the civilian population. They will stand as an accurate record, for all time I hope, of German savagery and barbarity. They can only suggest the heroism, the unflinching devotion, the unfailing and boundless human t sympathy and cheerfuless with which the onslaught has been met. This spirit is unconquerable, and will surely save liberty in the world and all that civilisation holds dear. May this spirit live for ever.”