GERMAN BOMBING

Opotiki News, Volume III, Issue 323, 18 October 1940, Page 3

GERMAN BOMBING

RAIDS ON LONDON FAMOUS SQUARE HIT DAMAGE TO CHURCH MORE HOUSES RAZED DEATHS AT SCHOOL (New., by Cable.) LONDON, Oct. JO. London had three brief alerts today. Heavy casualties are feared as a result of a direct hit on a large crowded underground shelter m London this morning.

A goods’ tram and platelayers’ gang were machine-gunned in the Midlands, but none were injured. Last night a famous London square was reduced to a heap of .twisted frames and dusty debris. At least eight automobiles were shattered. One was a mere mass of twisted metal. Parts were flung through adjacent windows. Many persons were sheltering in buildings around the square, but less than a cozen casualties were caused.

A famous church was severely damaged. Gaping holes were torn in the sides. Tenements, blocks of flats, hospitals and some shopping and business areas were cut off by the debris. . School Destroyed

The heaviest casualties cf the night were sustained wneu a heavycalibre bomb completely destroyed a school which many people were using for a shelter. 1* our other schools were damaged. About 50 people wore rescued from the debris of the school which was destroyed. Troops reached seme by means of tunnelling four shafts under the wreckage. Doctors attended serious cases by tor Might. Fleets of ambulances were busy all night.

Two policemen were killed while on duty in the London ai ea. A family of five, consisting of a man, his wife- and three children perished when an Anderson shelter was directly hit. Perilous Rescue Work

Twenty boys were ti apped when a hostel was demolished. Seventeen of the boys were subsequently rescued, but the hostel chaplain and the superintendent with h;s wife and two children ai e all feared dead.

The raiders, guided by a large fire in a furniture respositorv, rained down 20 high-explosive bonnes on doctors, nurses, and A.R.P. workers, of whom several were killed. Tho rescuers continued their work disregarding the terrible danger. A large bomb wrecked several houses from which A.R.P. workers are still extricating those trapped in the afternoon. Two firemen were buried while extricating a man.

Mr. Charles Goodyear was killed by a bomb which destroyed part of industrial premises in London. He gave his life for his comrades. The firm’s fire brigades were dealing with several incendiary bombs, when Mr. Goody car, hearing a high-explosive bomb falling, ran about- blowing a whistle to ensure that everyone was under cover. The bomb buried him under tho wreckage of the building.