BLITZED!

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 60, 3 June 1942, Page 5

BLITZED!

WHAKATANE CAN TAKE IT REALISTIC E.P.S. TEST BOMBS, FIRES, FATALITIES * In • spite of the intensive air raid' upon the pretty liittle town of Whiakatane Hast Saturday, the settlement by the sea, emerged serene and smiling again after being heavily and 1 ruthlessly blitzed by an invisible air armada. In fact the only scars to tell the tale were a few assorted bruises sustained by a brace of breathless messengers who collided during the commotion of the first alert. Whakatane thereafter metaphorically licked - its wounds and like the Maltese heroes continues* to hurl d'efiat the enemy. 'Saturday's complete E.P.S. test was, the most comprehensive and best staged, but attempted' in the ;Borough. The whole of the personxiel was in active operation from the first sound of the alert till the welcoming notes ol the all clear. At 2.12 p.m. the siren set the organisation in motion, and thereafter for a crowded hour, it was literally one d:— thing after another. Aided by 'Henderson thunder' the ibombs literally hailed down upon tihe peaceful countryside. A water blow out, sent the plumbing squad posthaste to the end of James Street, while an incen-diary must land at the other extreme end—plumb on the roof of J. Creekc's residence at ihe Heads—lucky the roof was: iron, not shingles.

At fateful 2.24 the Bank of- New .Zealand went in a wisp of smoke taking with it bank mortgages and •overdrafts. Those buried in the debris did not however include the .manager who retains a remarkable memory. The 'rescue squad' did -prodigies of work at this sector. But away—didn't you know a high explosive bomb' had shattered the Masonic Hall in Louvain street and killed the goat. The smell was terrific. But we have no time to > take stock of the lighter side. In-< ccndiary bombs have fallen in James :Street, on the Beach road, and set .the Municipal Buildings alight. Here ■the flames by the new paint and defy the ratepayers ardent prayers. T'he Anglican Church is also afire —the brigade, helmets flashing, report, one casualty. Some fire. Telephone and power lines crash* down ■on all sides sending the electricians squad frantically in all directions. Bang, goes GraefT's Bakery when true to schedule an obliging high •explosive! makes his cake dough till Just 3.15. Hullo, can't get to Taneatua now —Valley Read bridge demolished • Got cold feet? No. stick it out old man. Think of Londo/n! More variety now —a collision. Yes a truck and a van in Hinemoa Street. "Where are the Zam Bucks? Now the Bandroom's afire. What a mess! Acting as temporary morgue too. "Well can't get sentimental now! P. and T. cables shattered and trans--former at Hillcrest going crook. Send, em all along. We're used to it by now. Thanks, another blow out in Haig Street! 'And so it ended, the nightmare giving way to mutual cheers and -congratulations to which the 'Bea- 1 •coil* adds! its: own on the splendid co-operation and combination of all sections.