PLANE CRASHES IN ESSEX TOWN

Southland Times, Issue 24115, 2 May 1940, Page 7

PLANE CRASHES IN ESSEX TOWN

Heinkel Damaged By Fire — I? 100 CASUALTIES IN EXPLOSION (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received. May 1, 9.35 p.m.) LONDON, May 1. The Air Ministry reports that enemy aeroplanes approached the east coast at several points late last night. Antiaircraft guns went into action and one enemy aeroplane crashed in flames in Clacton-on-Sea in Essex. Five persons, including the four German members of the crew, were killed and 90 were wounded, of whom 49 were taken to hospital. Other bodies are possibly under the wreckage. About 50 houses were damaged. Two houses and a bungalow were completely destroyed. The Heinkel ploughed through the roofs of six buildings before burying itself deep in the courtyard of a block of flats. A terrific explosion which followed rocked the whole town. Streets for hundreds of yards were littered with bricks and tiles. The total damage is estimated at £lOO,OOO. Fire-fighting and ambulance squads were following the course of the aeroplane when it was seeking a forced landing. Finally it came down with its load of explosives. DETERMINATION OF NORWAY DIFFICULTIES FACED BY ALLIES (British Official Wireless) (Received May 1, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, April 31. The latest declaration of the Norwegian Government is welcomed in London. When the Norwegian Government affirms that “we consider freedom so valuable that we prefer to endure war rather than surrender it speaks a language which is well understood by Allied peoples. The Norwegian Government’s assertion that Norway did not want war and had been attacked and that the war will last until Norway is again free is felt to be worthy of the spirit of a brave people, to whose aid the Allies have come without hesitation or reserve. The difficulties facing the Allies in going to the assistance of the Norwegians in the way of advantages gained for Germany by means of the Nazi technique of sudden attack, treacherously planned and prepared in advance were never under-rated here. The experience of the first three weeks has provided no reason for revising the opinion that an arduous and prolonged effort will be called for from the Allies and Norway. Having obtained temporary local mastery .in the air by the seizure of air bases in Norway, the Germans are now in a position to hamper military action and make unlikely any easy, early or spectacular success for the Allies on land, but that fact does not affect the validity of the original judgment of British observers, according to which Herr Hitler’s decision to attack Norway was a major blunder, prompted in the view of many by anxiety to seek a decision quickly at whatever cost. To get a footing in Norway the Nazis had to sacrifice a third of the German fleet. They had to expose Germany to serious and continuing losses in men, shipping and material. The advantage gained locally in the air is only maintained at a great cost in petrol. GERMAN PEOPLE’S RESPONSIBILITY SUFFERINGS BROUGHT BY WAR LONDON, April 30. The Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain), in the House of Commons, replying to a suggestion that British statements of policy should avoid complete identification of the German people with the German Government, pointed out that the Allies had not any vindictive designs against the German people. Nevertheless, the German people must realize their responsibilities for prolonging the war and for the suffering it would bring them.