LONDON HAS QUIET DAY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21821, 26 November 1940, Page 5

LONDON HAS QUIET DAY

Heavy Attack On Western Town Fierce Barrage From Liverpool By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON. November 24. Enemy activity over Britain has to-day been slight, and attempts by German aeroplanes to reach London were driven off. Little damage was done and there were few casualties. Widespread attacks were made yesterday but, with the exception of a heavy raid on a South Coast town, little damage was done. After the raid on this town, one shopkeeper posted up the following notice outside his shop: “Good morning, everybody. Business as usual, with Hitler’s new ventilation system.” The Air Ministry states that many bombs were dropped in the attack on this town, which lasted for several hours. Houses and commercial buildings were damaged by explosions and fires. Elsewhere, in raids on widelyseparated districts, the damage was slight and there were few casualties. London had a quiet night, with only a few bombs falling on the outskirts. Night Raids Again A town in the west of England is reported to have been heavily attacked by large formations of German bombers for several hours to-night. It is feared that there have been many casualties. Early reports said that the enemy came over in large numbers and dropped, flares, followed by many tons of incendiary and high explosive bombs. Raiders are also reported to have been operating over Wales. A German bomber is said to have been shot down to-night near the Isle of Wight. During daylight raids on England to-day tt.-'ee German bombers were shot down. German long-range guns shelled Dover for over an hour this afternoon. A fierce barrage defeated the raiders attempting to reach Liverpool last night. All turned back without dropping bombs. Relays of raiders similarly were driven off from a north-east coast town. Enemy aeroplanes were almost constantly over a locality on the south coast for some hours last night. The first machines dropped flares and oil bombs, illuminating the ground, and succeeding aeroplanes dropped explosives and more incendiaries. Some aeroplanes were unable to face the barrage and bombed half a dozen places outside. Seven fires were started in the suburbs of one town, and four or five more in a village. All were subdued by the fire services, aided by the military. The raiders concentrated on the fires, but the barrage prevented many from reaching their objectives. Four were killed, including two girl students. Houses, schools and stores were damaged. The Berlin radio states that the chief victim of the air attacks last night was Southampton, where 250 planes dropped about 250 tons of explosives and thousands of Incendiary bombs. Fires were observed at a great distance. The radio added that Governmental quarters were among the targets bombed in London.