KING AND QUEEN IN DANGER

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21218, 14 September 1940, Page 7

KING AND QUEEN IN DANGER

PALACE AGAIN BOMBED

BARBAROUS ATTACK BY NAZIS OUTRAGE STRENGTHENS BRITISH RESOLVE CFIAPKL WIiKCKKD MEMBERS OF STAFF INJURED (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 14, 11 a.m.) LONDON, September 13 In today’s raids by German aeroplanes Buckingham Palace was attacked, several bombs falling within the precincts, one of which damaged the Palace Chapel. Their Majesties were in residence, but fortunately escaped injury. Three members of the Palace staff were injured. Incendiary bombs also fell in Downing Street, but did no damage. The following telegram was sent by the War Cabinet to the King today: “The War Cabinet offers hearty congratulations to Their Majesties on their providential escape from the barbarous attack made on their home and royal persons. The King replied to the Prime Minister: “The Queen and I are so grateful to the War Cabinet for its kind message. Like so many other people we have now had personal experience of German barbarity, which only strengthens the resolution of all of us to fight to final victory.” In the attack on the Palace the enemy dropped five bombs in rapid succession. Two fell in the inner quadrangle, a third hit the private chapel, and the remaining two fell in the roadway between the Palace gates and the Victoria Memorial. Their Majesties were in a shelter and members of the staff were also in shelters beneath the Palace. The Royal Chapel, which was wrecked, is in the south wing, close to the Ambassadors’ entrance. The bombs which fell in the quadrangle caused two large craters, burst a watermain, shattered windows, and pitted walls. Soldiers from the Wellington Barracks assisted in extinguishing the fires. Their Majesties, after walking through the cellars and talking with members of the staff, inspected the wrecked chapel. The plane which bombed Buckingham Palace dropped a stick of bombs across the famous square. Two fell near houses, two on the roadway and one nearly hit a well-known peer’s house. The spotter on a nearby building said the plane came out of the clouds right over the Palace. It was not indiscriminate bombing but a definite attack. Soon after the raid Their Majesties, apparently unshaken, left the Palace to continue a tour, arranged yesterday, of the London areas in which the bomb damage was heaviest.

Bombing of the Palace The twin-engined plane which bombed Buckingham Palace was seen diving from the clouds. The pilot, as he came over the Palace, appeared to cut the engines and whistle bombs and explosions were heard in rapid succession. Pieces of stone and masonry fell in Buckingam Palace Hoad. One piece of stone smashed an electric light lamp in the centre of the road. The pilot then re-started his engine and disappeared in the clouds. One bomb completely wrecked the Royal Chapel. Their Majesties’ Royal apartments and shelters were situated on the opposite side of the Palace, in the North wing. Three members of the staff, whose shelter was near the wrecked chapel, were slightly injured. Bombs which fell in the roadway started a fire, which was quickly extinguished. Other incendiary bombs fell near the Palace.

FIERCE AIR BATTLES

TRIBUTE TO BRITISH PLANES BATTERED BY SHELLS GALLANTRY OF FLIERS (oracial Wireless) (Received Sept. 14, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 13 Many pilots who are fighting again today in the fierce air battles over England owe their lives to the skill of the men who made the Spitfires and the Hurricanes which carry them home, although battered by enemy shells and bullets. After destroying a Messerschmitt 109 a Spitfire pilot had his aircraft severely damaged by shells from another Messerschmitt. He said: “My fuselage and one wing were hit, severing the rudder controls completely. The elevator cables and wireless were also hit. I managed, however, to return to the base and made a forced landing with very little additional damage to the wing tips. A squadron leader shot down a Junkers 88, 'and then had to break away from the fight as the cooling mixture pipe of his Hurricane was hit, and the cockpit tilled with smoke fumes. He had also been hit in the sole of his shoe, in the hood behind his head, and in the air screw, and the three ignition leads to the starboard block were shattered as well. The pilot merely reported difficulty in getting back to the base. The British Admiralty has issued a list containing the names of one officer and 30 ratings missing from the destroyer Ivanhoe, which was sunk by a mine or torpedo at the beginning of this month. In addition, three ratings were wounded.

MORE NAZI LIES

SENSATIONAL STORY DENIED COURT AND GOVERNMENT NOT LEAVING LONDON (Official Wireless) (Received Sept. 14, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 13 The enemy wireless stations tonight reported that the British Government, the Court and the Diplomatic Corps were on the verge of leaving London. They stated that their authority for this entirely unfounded report was the American Columbia broadcasting reporter in London. The reporter in question, Mr ; Edward Murrow, authorised a state- ’ ment that the German version of his remarks totally misrepresents his meaning. His actual words were* “Presumably plans for the evacuation of London have been ready for ■ more than a year, but I do not believe that serious consideration is being given to such a step at the moment. The King and Government are still in London, and unless the city becomes untenable I believe they will remain.” The German story, therefore, gives to Mr Murrow’s words a sense exactly the opposite of what he intended.

A further German allegation that the Diplomatic Corps is considering making a de marche to the Foreign Office about leaving the capital is authoritatively stated to be equally untrue.

Allegations of this kind from German and German-controlled sources are not unexpected at this moment, and their repetition may be expected over the next few days. The German Propaganda Ministry obviously is redoubling its efforts to persuade the world that the British morale is cracking.

BOMB EXPLODES

ITALIANS KILLED DROPPED IN BRITISH RAID | .United Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 14, 2 p.m.) TURIN, Sept. 13 Five soldiers and one civilian were killed, and several people were injured while digging out an unexploded bomb which the British • dropped on the Fiat works some days ago.