GHASTLY GLOWS OVER LONDON

Southland Times, Issue 24239, 24 September 1940, Page 5

GHASTLY GLOWS OVER LONDON

Ghastly, sulphurous glows filling the sky in quick succession added a new feature to the terrifying spectacles ovex - London. The glows appeared too prolonged for shell bursts and too short for flares, although they illuminated big areas.

Both aeroplane and anti-aircraft activity were exceptionally. slight during the first two hours of the night alarm, which sounded earlier than usual. Then the raiders attacked in groups of threes and fours, and the barrage opened with a thunderous roll. There were moments of peace for over an hour.

High explosives were dropped-in the south-east and north-west. A heavy rainstorm descended on the Straits of Dover and a strong south-westerly kept the seas comfortably high for those on this side of the Channel. The Civil Defence North Regional Commissioner has warned the public to resume carrying gasmasks, saying that if an invasion comes from the seas gas will most probably be used. CHURCH SHATTERED The Air Ministry announced that air activity in daylight was confined to isolated raids. A Kentish church was shattered by bombs. It is the district’s fourth church to be demolished by bombs. Raiders caused further casualties in south-east towns in the afternoon.

While a spotter watched for raiders, hundreds of shop girls in Oxford street spent Saturday and Sunday clearing away bomb wreckage and arranging improvised counters for opening on Monday. “Bomb sales” will be a feature of Oxford Street this autumn.

A large force of bombers flew over the Kent area, but British anti-aircraft guns went into action and fighter planes closed in on the raiders. One Messerschmitt was chased by a Spitfire and shot down between Dover and Folkestone. It plunged into the sea near the Folkestone jetty. A raider over the Isle of Wight was caught in a heavy anti-aircraft barrage and crashed into the sea near the Needles. Another Messerschmitt was shot down several miles to the north of Dover.

The bombers of the Royal Air Force once again carried out their systematic attacks on Germanoccupied bases on the coasts of France and Belgium last night. Berlin itself was raided for the first time for a week. The inhabitants were roused from their beds a few minutes before midnight and had to stay in their shelters for two hours while British planes flew overhead.

An important military target in Germany was bombed. Trondheim was also attacked and an important railway was bombed.