WALLS OF FLAME

Waikato Times, Volume 193, Issue 22204, 25 November 1943, Page 5

WALLS OF FLAME

DESTRUCTION IN BERLIN GIGANTIC NEW FIRES 25,000 PEOPLE KILLED (United Press Assn.—EJec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Nov. 25, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON. Nov. Fires started the previous night were still burning when a heavy bombet force reached Berlin last night. Reuter’s Stockholm correspondent says the raid last night started gigantic new fires and caused very heavy damage, especially in western Berlin near the big zoo. The Fotsdammer railway station and adjacent warehouses are reported to have been devastated. Correspondents of Swedish newspapers refer to walls of flame over half a mile long after last night’s raid. The Borne corresrespondent of the Allenhanda states thai. it is believed that 25,000 people were killed in Monday night’s raid and it is estimated that the Royal Air Force used 900 planes in last' night’s attack.

The Afton Tidningen states that all work in Berlin factories and offices is at a standstill, as everybody is being employed in rescue and salvage operations. Entire districts of the capital are burning fiercely. Explosions from, block-busters rocked all sections of Berlin last night, but fires provided the worst horrors. A cloud of ashes swept through the streets accompanied by terrific gusts of flame, caused by the peculiar effect of the bomb blasts. The explosions appeared to create a vacuum, followed by a cyclone-like wave of fire. The fire-fighting service was incapable of handling the task. Entire Blocks in Flames Entire blocks, 10 or 12 squares long were enveloped in flames this morning, resulting in a summer-like temperature in the city. The telephone exchanges in Stockholm are unable to get a reply from Berlin, through which calls pass for nearly all occupied Europe. Direct telegraphic communication with Berlin has also stopped. Most of the German short-wave transmitters have not operated since Monday night’s raid. The German news agency stated that the raids against Berlin were the gravest carried out against any German town.

A German High Command communique, referring to last night’s raid, says: “This terror attack, carried out by strong forces, caused fresh heavy damage by fires in several districts. Extensive residential quarters and numerous public buildings, including welfare institutions, churches and cultural monuments, were destroyed Fighters and antiaircraft gums shot down nineteen raiders despite difficult defence conditions. Threat of Retaliation The German news agency stated: “Early retaliation is promised against the British for the raids on Berlin—retaliation not with the Luftwaffe. The German military command regrets that things have gone so far as a result of the behaviour of the British terror raiders that it can no longer close its ears to the call for retaliation. The retaliation will be hard but will be fair punishment for all the misdeeds which the British have committed against the German civil population. The German army is ready to execute retaliation immediately orders are given.”