MANY RAIDERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 10, 13 January 1941, Page 5

MANY RAIDERS

LUFTWAFFE VISITS BRITAIN

BOMBS ON MERSEYSIDE

FEW CASUALTIES IBr Telegraph—Frees Association—Copyright) LONDON, Jan. 10. Many raiders participated in a long raid last night on Liverpool and the Merseyside. High explosives ana many incendiary bombs were rained down, hitting commercial and residential property. Britisii lighters were in action and public co-operation resulted in not a single fire getting a serious hold. The casualties included a number killea. A German communique refers to the bombing of London, Manchester, and Liverpool. It is now known that in last night's raid on north-west England two enemy bombers were shot down by anti-aircraft fire. In R.A.F. operations over Germany last night one of our bombers engaged and shot down an enemy fighter. The usual evening communique regarding the enemy's daylight activities against Britain states that theie is nothing to report. There was considerable enemy activity over the country last night. Bombs were dropped on widely-sep-arated districts in England and Wales, including the Merseyside, and also north-west England, the Midlands, and the London area. Houses and shops were damaged, but the number of fires and casualties was nowhere large. R.A.F. bombers attacked targets in western Germany. Five persons died of injuries when bombs fell on municipal houses in a town in the Home Counties last night. Several houses were demolished and many seriously damaged. A quick succession of raiders passed over an east coast resort on which two bombs were dropped, wrecking two houses. An anti-aircraft shell fell in Rupert Street, in the West End, last night and two persons were killed. The shell landed almost opposite the Queens Theatre, which was wrecked in a recent raid.

Bomb Falls Near Shelter. A heavy bomb fell near a shelter in the London area when 1000 people were preparing their bunks. Those in the shelter comforted the frightened children and helped tnose who were injured and all settled down to sleep. One person was killed and live injured in a neighbouring building. A policeman in a north-west town found his own home wrecked, hjs daughter (aged 13) killed, and his wile and baby buried under debris. Nine persons were rescued from under the debris of a block of flats. They included a family who had previously been bombed from their home in the East End. Three persons were killed when their home in the London area was demolished. Five persons were killed and many houses damaged in a Midlands town.

Post Office Carries On. The Post Office has instituted a street telegram service in the City of London to overcome the telephonic and telegraphic difficulties resulting from the fire on December 29. Messengers wearing armlets walk the city streets and receive telegrams and give change. Endorsed “Delayed by enemy action” many letters which were posted in the city on December 29 are now being delivered. Nearly 30 pillarboxes disappeared under debris durin” the big fire raid on that date. Postmen cleared the boxes by using pick axes. Some of the boxes were so surrounded with wreckage . that postmen who had been delivering in the locality for years were unable to find any recognisable spots. It has been necessary to close the apertures of derelict boxes because optimistic business people, after toiling over miniature mountains of rubble, continued to post letters in what remained of the boxes, confident that the postmen stil called as usual. Five hundred Methodist churches throughout Britain have been destroyed or seriously damaged since the blitz started. The entire staff of one mission was killed. Congregations which have been bombed out have continued their services in neighbouring churches.

GERMANS ADMIT LOSSES FIVE PLANES FAIL TO RETURN Received Jan. 12. 7.30 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 11. A communique issued in Berlin admits that six planes failed to return from the attacks on southern England last night.

ATTACK ON PORTSMOUTH Received Jan. 12, 7.30 p.m. BERLIN, Jan. 11. Informed circles say that the Luftwaffe carried out a large-scale attacl on Portsmouth last night.

CASUALTIES AT PORTSMOUTH TORRENT OF INCENDIARY BOMBS Received Jan. 12. 9.30 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 11. Several churches and cinemas were hit at Portsmouth last night. A hospital. which was receiving casualties, was damaged. It was almost impossible for firefighters to deal with ail incendiary oombs. A number ef fires burned for some time while the raiders droppea high explosive bombs. The Germans renewed the attack later in the night, when a torrent of incendiary bombs rained down. A high explosive bomb hit a Roman Catholic church, killing four women members of the staff, who were found kneeling with their heads bowed as if in prayer. A mother and her son were killed when a raider bombed a south-east coast town in the afternoon.