FRENZIED MIDNIGHT ATTACK ON LONDON.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 229, 26 September 1940, Page 7

FRENZIED MIDNIGHT ATTACK ON LONDON.

GOERING'S FURY.

Famous Buildings Destroyed In Holocaust.

United Press Association.—Copyright. (Reed. 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 25. Soon after midnight Goering launched one of the most frenzied attacks yet made on London. Sections of raiders sought out an important part of central London and also a famous shopping area. They first rained down hundreds of incendiary bombs and circled round the targets. Then dive-bombers, swooping recklessly under the balloon barrage, joined in a series of furious attacks. Valuable stained glass windows were blown in at an historic Central London church. One bomb blew out the interior of a bank a few yards from the church. Fire bombs on Central London started a ring of fires within a radius of a quarter of a inile, six of which were blazing simultaneously and enveloping college and business premises, in which the furniture depositories were highly inflammable. Goods in many nearby buildings had been removed. Heroism of Fire-fighters. Fire-fighters worked on through the hail' of shrapnel, and daylight found only the shells of the buildings standing. In one well-known street the walls continued to collapse in clouds of dust, debris and smoke. In a south-west suburb a line of three shops was wrecked, adjoining three wrecked a few nights ago. A particularly heavy high explosive bomb caused great damage and also many casualties in one of London's most popular centres, while residential areas elsewhere were again damaged. The New York correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain announced that it was believed that the buildings housing their London office were struck in the night's raiding. The staff were uninjured, but were operating temporarily under extreme difficulty. Communication was cut off for 47 minutes.

23 Enemy Planes Down. ] An Air Ministry communique at 8.43 p.m. said: "It is now known that 23 eaierny aircraft were destroyed to-day, three by anti-aircraft fire. One of our lighters previously reported lost is safe. Our losses therefore are four fighter aircraft, the pilots of three of which are safe." A communique on the daylight attacks by the German Air Force today, says the British official wireless, issued early this evening, said: "Enemy aircraft crossed the Dorset eoast to-day and attacked Bristol. Bombs were dropped near the coast and on the outskirts of Bristol, causing some damage and killing and injuring a number of people. There was also some minor enejny activity in the south-east of England, but reports indicate that little damage was caused, and there were few casualties. "The enemy was engaged by our fighters at all points. Eighteen enemy aircraft, including at least 13 bombers, were shot down in these operations." After air fighting over Bournemouth in the afternoon a German bomber crashed, setting fire to a house. Four of the five members of the crew were killed, says a cable message.

Another bomber was brought down near Swan age. Five of the crew baled out and were captured. Bombs fell on a south London area in to-day'a raid.