LONDON ATTACKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 225, 21 September 1940, Page 9

LONDON ATTACKS.

Shattering Explosions In Suburban Areas. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Reed. 11.30 a.m.) LONDON*, Sept. 20. Three shattering explosions in the youth-west shortly before sunrise closed London's 13th all night raid. A raider was apparently unloading before scurrying to escape Royal Air Force dawn patrols. A high explosive bomb levelled six houses and damaged many others in the northeast.

Thousands of East Enders sheltered in the Holboru underground railway, many being homeless.

Among unexploded bombs unearthed was one 25 years old. Workmen installing an A.R.P. shelter located the bomb and hurriedly summoned a disposal unit, which was amazed to discover that it was dropped in the last -war.

| A raider cruising over a south-east coastal town bombed a working class district. When a public house was directly hit. the landlord and his wife, staff and customers were trap|>ed. A second bomb wrecked three houses, killi ing three people. Huge Bomb Explosion. A big bomb dropped in the outskirts of London last night completely wrecked two houses, rendered a dozen others uninhabitable, and damaged scores of others. A formation of escorted German bombers was intercepted at a great height near a south-east town this morning. British fighters attacked from above, nd tho Germans scurried off towards the coast. One was shot down.

The gale has dropped over the Straits of Dover, and the sea is now calmer. France is easily visible.

Two hundred German 'planes were chased back across the Channel to-day, and 12 were reported to have been shot down. Strong forces of German bombers crossed the Kent coast heading for London, and a few reached the capital, but the attack was broken within an hour. Two hundred incendiary bombs fell in Essex villages. Bomb damage in Port man Square forced the diplomatic staff of the Japanese Embassy to vacate their offices. Bomb Strikes Public Shelter. An Air Ministry communique states: "Enemy activity last night was on a smaller scale, and less effective. "Attacks were again directed mainly on London and its suburbs. A bomb struck an escape hatch of a public shelter in north London. Some of those taking refuge were killed and some injured.

"Houses and industrial buildings elsewhere were hit. High explosive bombs caused damage in the East End. A factoi was set on fire, and there were some fatalities iii this district.

'"Bombs fell in Lancashire, Essex, Surrey, Berkshire and Kent, and also in the Midlands and the south-west. Incendiary bombs «jet fire to a hospital in Essex and two cottages in Berkshire. A village was demolished, and there were a few casualties, some fatal."