MANY CASUALTIES

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21244, 15 October 1940, Page 5

MANY CASUALTIES

RAIDS ON BRITAIN TRAPPED UNDER DEBRIS WRECKAGE OF HOUSES (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Oct. 15, 11.5 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 14 As a result of raids during the night, rescue squads early this morning extricated the bodies of the mayor and mayoress of a south-eastern town, who had been trapped under the debris when the town was bombed, and later recovered the bodies of the eldest son of the deceased and the grand-daughter, aged four years. Another grand r daughter was sent to hospital, where she died, and a daughter-in-law, and three other women were sent to hospital seriously injured. The terrific anti-aircraft barrage was so successful against raiders at Liverpool and district last night and early this morning that only the last raider was able to come comparatively low. He loosed bombs indiscriminately and hit two ends of a large block of tenements, causing casualties, including some children.

Others shattered houses in work-ing-class streets. One bomb of a heavy calibre demolished two fourstorey houses. An elderly coloured man was rescued from a cellar after three hours. He told the workers where to search for his wife. Even the hardened members of the air raid squads cheered his fortitude as he was removed on a stretcher. A number of people, including children, are believed to have been buried in the ruins of adjoining houses. A block of flats, tenements, communal shelters, and a convent were among the places bombed last night and early this morning in 36 London districts and 20 provincial areas. Streets Machine-gunned The raiders came in relays early in the morning, one machine-gunning the streets in a London district. A trolley bus was wrecked, while the passengers and driver were taking shelter. Two bombs wrecked four blocks of flats in one London area and one hit a shelter. Two people were killed and a number injured. Three bombs demolished a number of working-class houses and small shops and hit an Anderson shelter. It is feared there were some casualties. Residents of an outlying district reported that 16 bombs were dropped in less than a minute. There was slight damage to houses. Enemy Planes Destroyed Two enemy aircraft were destroyed yesterday in encounters over Britain. Two of our fighters were lost, but both pilots are safe.

SOVIET AND GERMANY EARLY TALKS LIKELY BETTER RELATIONS WANTED FRIENDSHIP FOR JAPAN united Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrlgntl NEW YORK, Oct. 12 Conversations between Russia and Germany are expected in the immediate future for a half-yearly review of economic relations between the two countries, says the Berlin correspondent of the New York Times. “ It will not be surprising if von Kibbentrop goes to Moscow shortly,” he adds. “ It is no secret that Germany would like to see improved relations with the Soviet, and also a non-aggression pact between Moscow and Tokio.” In a leading article the New Y irk Times says: “ The fact that Russia is so obligingly unprotesting, in spite of recent Balkan moves, indicates that Sialin and MolotofE are now ly.ng in a pit of helplessness they have dug themselves.

“ Having signed the death pact with Hitler last year they must now abide by its consequences, one of which was the Italo-German-Japan pact, which appears to have handcuffed them.

“ Another will probably come in the form of a Russo-Japan pact, made at Hitler’s command. Still another would be the spectacle of Hitler’s troops advancing unhindered through the age-old Russian ‘ living-space ’ in the Near East.”