NO RESPITE FOR LONDON

Evening Star, Issue 23677, 10 September 1940, Page 5

NO RESPITE FOR LONDON

Relays of Enemy Bombers Considerable Damage to Buildings Public Services Interrupted Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, September 9. '(Received September 10, at 9 a.m.) German raiders again cruised over London from twilight to dawn yesterday, showering bombs over a wide area of the city. The raid lasted for nearly 10 hours. The enemy employed successive relays of planes which, operating independently, dropped bombs over a widespread area in London. No intensive attack was delivered at any time by a large force. The anti-aircraft guns were in action continuously. The more deliberate of the enemy attacks were again made'on the Thames Side districts, where a number of fires were started. Attacks made on several other parts of London resulted in many fires and interruption of the public services. There was considerable damage in some public and mercantile buildings. Bombs were scattered in East London, again hitting an area affected on September 7. In another district showers of burning debris were flung toward the sky. Several new fires were caused in the London area. The raiders sometimes flew very low, cruising in wide circles around the London area in addition to traversing it. . There was simply no respite from the loud explosions and reverberating blasts hour upon hour, every now and bombs crashing more'frequently and more loudly. A civil defence authority said: “ The raiders are not operating in mass formations but their intention is still obviously to wipe us off the map. Our services are functioning marvellously under stress." The raiders machine-gunned a Spitfire pilot who baled out over London. The pilot landed unconscious on a barrage balloon which had to be hauled down. He died while en route to hospital. Raiders were also over two north-eastern towns as well as the Midlands. Mr Churchill toured the East End late yesterday afternoon and talked with homeless people and viewed the damage. He said ho wanted first-hand news of the happenings. Hundreds cheered him in spite of their own troubles. ' Londoners,' sleepy-eyed; but stout-hearted, went to work today determinedly nevertheless. Many were late owing to traffic .difficulties in some areas. People living in unbombed districts quickly realised the happenings elsewhere when they saw unfamiliar buses which had been sent on other routes to avoid craters or debris-littered roads. Sopie workers were obliged tochange buses three or four times.

The proximity of the bombers forced newspaper staffs to abandon work and consequently the printing of the papers was extremely late. Their distribution was also delayed by interruptions on some of the usual routes.

SUNDAY NIGHT’S RAID

FURTHER DETAILS OF DAMAGE LONDON, September 9. (Received September 10, at 11.50 a.in.) Further details of Sunday night’s raids are now available. Two streets in Central London suffered severe damage from a bomb which fell near a newspaper office situated in this area. A heavy bomb directly hit a block of tenement buildings and demolished 40 yards of the centre of the block. It is feared that some of the residents are still buried under the debris. Incendiary and high explosive bombs falling in quick succession in clusters In another Central London street severely damaged Scores of shops, business premises, public houses, and cafes. Flames were coming from the wreckage hours after the raid. A road junction was damaged when heavy bombs burst, smashing property and damaging gas mains. Five young women are missing following the bombing of a hospital in Central London, and other people were injured. The secretary stated that the two top stories (mainly nurses’ quarters) were ruined. The windows of one ward were blown in. The patients and Burses, were splendid. The damage in one Central London area extended over a quarter of a mile radius. Not a single property escaped damage. An institution had all its windows blown in, but there was no panic among the 1,400 inmates, aged 60 to 100 years. Fifteen were injured. In one underground shelter of an office building in Central London many people were buried and several killed. It is believed, that they were trapped through one corner falling in as the result of the terrific force of the explosion, which shattered the walls of neighbouring buildings. Other buildings became hollow shells. Huge baulks of timber and other supports lay mingled with massive pieces of plaster and bricks in a tangled mass of debris.

AERIAL TORPEDO USED. Over 50 were killed when an aerial torpedo demolished an East London block of fiats. Rescue parties extricated 20 bodies. Seven people, including a mother, father, their daughter, and her child were killed when a high explosive bomb hit a garden shelter in South-east London. In the dock area a fire station was burned out when a bomb scored a direct hit. Notwithstanding fires and damage, business in the docks area went on as usual, and the docks to-day presented a surprisingly normal appearance. About 2,500 were transferred from a fire-damaged East End district, Also 800 from an area bordering on the river. Mobile canteens are meeting the immediate food requirements. “ Everyone has been splendid, providing food, taking in children, and lending clothes,” said a London County Council official.” The council is caring for those rendered homeless. SOUTH-WEST LONDON AFFECTED FIRES GUIDE RAIDERS BACK LONDON, September 9. (Received September 10, at 11.55 a.m.) A cellar being used as a shelter caved in, burying the occupants, who were subsequently extricated. South-west London received a terrible pasting, especially between 2 a.m. and 4.3 Q a.m. Fires started earlier in the night brought back the raiders, and bombs fell with scarcely an intermission. One south-western shelter received a direct hit. It is believed that many were killed. An explosion fractured a gas main on a road, starting a fire which was visible at a great distance. There was a scene of devastation at the corner of two London roads, where a huge block of flats was badly damaged. Fire broke out and ambulances for several hours were engaged in taking casualties to hospital. A cinema adjoining was practically w.recked. The raiders, after starting fires with incendiaries in the East London area, tried to prevent fire-fighting by dropping screaming bombs. The firemen carried on coolly. Large areas in the East End were cordoned off this morning, owing to the danger of the collapse of buildings. Gas was escaping from mains in some areas. Several

BLIND SAVAGERY INDISCRIMINATE ATTACKS THREE HOSPITALS HIT SATURDAY'S CASUALTY FIGURES AMENDED (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 9. (Received September 10, at 9.50 a.m.) Reports of the damage caused in the attacks on Loridon on Sunday night are not yet complete, states an Air Ministry and Home Security communique, but some particulars can now be given. The attacks were severe and continued throughout the hours of darkness. Bombing was widespread over the London area and, for the most part, indiscriminate. Many of the targets were of a non-military character, including three hospitals and two museums. The number of casualties cannot at present be assessed, though, as far as information is available, it is not anticipated that the numbers will exceed Saturday’s figures. The casualties given for the attacks on that day are now found to be rather lower than were announced. According to present information 306 were killed and 1,337 seriously injured. The docks on both sides of the river were again subjected to heavy and repeated bombardments with high-explo-sive and incendiary bombs. A number of fires broke out. Maiiy of these have been extinguished and all the remainder are now; well in hand. London has once again been the main objective of the enemy, and its citizens have met the blind savagery of these latest night attacks with admirable courage and resource. TWO HOSPITAL WARDS DEMOLISHED - LONDON, September 9. Further salvoes of bombs -Jo-night produced more fires, which are blazing in many parts. A bomb landed outside a big London newspaper office, but the workers were sheltering and escaped injury. A tar distillery on the north bank of the Thames was still burning fiercely this morning. The matron of a hospital in East London stated that two wards were demolished and there were some deaths. The raiders’ usual tactics were to drop a salvo of bombs, including incendiaries, and dodge wildly away from searchlights and swerve for a return dive, in which the remainder of the bombs were unloaded. Othefs merely dropped incendiaries and waited until fire illuminated the targets before swooping down for the major attack. Later raiders apparently strove to keep up or increase the first fires while bombing any new objectives they illuminated, regardless of the thicklypopulated area. 150 RAIDERS ENGAGED OPERATIHC 3 SINGLE UNITS LONDON, September 9. (Received September 10, at 11.15 a.m.) It is authoritatively estimated that at least 150 enemy machines, mostly operating singly, were engaged in last night’s raid. Spitfires are believed to have shot down three Messcrschmitts over Southeast London in the evening, when big bombers, escorted by fighters, attacked the metropolis. Some bombed the inner London area. Raiders last night bombed a hospital in the London area which was unoccupied and reserved for raid casualties. They reduced a three-story wing to rubble. Another wing was damaged. A bomb striking a museum caused a fire which burned off the roof of the east wing. Another bomb demolished a House immediately opposite, and a third damaged another house near by. Another museum in the London area was also damaged. GERMANY'S BIGGEST BOMBERS IN ACTION AGAINST LONDON BERLIN, September 9. (Received September 10, at 8 a.m.) Authorised quarters said that 35 of Germany’s biggest bombers departed for London shortly before midnight, carrying the heaviest-calibro bombs. The flyers reported that the London fire spread smoke so thick that the bombers had difficulty in seeing their targets. It was stated that the bombs used were the most destructive Germany possesses, being reserved for knock-out blows against special objectives. It is claimed that they are capable of levelling anything within oOOyds of the explosion, which tosses bombers like boats in a wild sea even thousands of feet up.

loud explosions in another area brought the tired wardens back to duty, but they discovered that the explosions were duo to delayed action bombs. Utility undertakings in the docks area were seriously damaged. Gas was cut off over a large district. Two scream-, ing bombs which fell in the North London area struck residences, lifting several roofs bodily into the air. Passengers on a South London train watched a plane dropping bombs, after which the plane collided with a balloon. Both fell in flames. The train services are busily attempting to return to normality, but the services from the dock stations have been suspended.

TOLL OF NAZI PLANES FORTY-SEVEN SHOT DOWN LOSSES IN LATEST RAIDS (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 9. (Received September 10, at 1.15 p.m.) An Air Ministry and Homo Security communique states: This evening considerable forces of enemy aircraft again approached London. They were heavily engaged. Preliminary reports show that, while a few penetrated north of the river, only minor damage was done there. Scattered bombs dropped in South London, many in the outskirts, but again no serious damage appears to have been done. While full reports are not yet available about the casualties, these are not expected to be heavy. The enemy dropped bombs in a town in Kent and Wrecked a number of houses. Several people were killed. Reports received at 10 p.m. show that 47 aircraft were shot down in to-day’s engagements, 45 by fighters and two by anti-aircraft guns. Thirteen of our fighters are missing but three pilots are safe. NAZI VERSION BERLIN, September 9. (Received September 10, at noon.) . A communique states: “ Bomber formations, in spite of bad weather conditions, continued the reprisals against London. They were able to recognise their targets from a great distance by the fires still burning. Bombs of all calibres were dropped on both sides of the Thames, on docks, harbour works, oil depots, gas and electricity works, and warehouses. Photographs from the air confirm the effectiveness of the previous attacks. We attacked several aerodromes in the neighbourhood of Lincoln. “■British planes attacked residential quarters in Hamburg and damaged several houses. Some civilians were injured. The enemy lost a total of 22 planes. Four of ours are missing. “ Bombs damaged a merchantman of 8,000 tons in the Firth of Forth.” The German News Agency claims that a bomber considerably damaged installations at Woolwich at noon yesterday, destroying a powder magazine, industrial plants, and the railway sta-, tion., KING VISITS DAMAGE AREAS ONE BOMB HOLS FIFTY FEET DEEP (British Official Wireless.) RDGBY, September 9. (Received September 10, at 10.59 a.m.) The King to-day made a three-hour tour of the areas in east and south-east London which suffered most from enemy bombing. His Majesty, who travelled up from Windsor specially to make the tour, commented upon the wonderful bravery of'the people in these areas, who, though many of them have been rendered homeless and suffered personal bereavement, appeared cheerful and gave the King the warmest reception. At many places which the King visited A.R.P. workers were still hard at work, and His Majesty had occasion to congratulate the various services for.their good work and courage. Later the King drove to a road where a huge bomb had struck and completelydestroyed a row of eight houses. The King clambered up a huge pile of debris in front of a crater 75ft wide and 50ft deep. Dirt-begrimed A.R.P. workers were still searching here for bodies, and one man showed the King a big piece of bomb. The King saw many other buildings, including a big block of flats which had moved one yard as the result of a bomb explosion, but which had not fallen down. The King was obviously moved when he saw A.R.P. workers still searching for bodies. MESSAGE TO COUNCIL CHAIRMAN LONDON, Sptember 9. (Received September 10, at 1 p.m.) His Majesty, in a message to Mr Emil Davies, chairman of the London County Council, expressed the distress with which he heard the news of the air raids on September 7. His Majesty added that the suffering of the people of London and elsewhere was much in his thoughts, Mr Davies, in acknowledging the message, assured His Majesty that the people remained constant in their loyalty and fortitude. PAST THE CENTURY SATURDAY'S GREAT BAG TOTALS MOVING STEADILY UP (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 9. (Received September 10, at 10.59 a.m.) The first air warning in the London area to-day sounded at 5.10 p.m., and the “ All clear ” was given an hour and a-quarter later. Some bombs were dropped, and the enemy raiders, which appeared to be few in number, were heavily engaged by anti-aircraft gunfire and fighters. So far no official information is available regarding the damage done or the numbers of enemy aircraft destroyed, but agency reports state that a second warning sounded at 8.45 p.m. It is now known that during last night three enemy aircraft were shot down by our anti-aircraft guns, making the total

SUBMARINE SUCCESSES THREE ITALIAN SHIPS SUNK CUTTING OFF SUPPLIES FOR LIBYA (British Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright RUGBY, September 9. (Received September 10, at 9.50 a.m.) The recent successful activities of British submarines are mentioned in un Admiralty communique, which states that British submarines operating in Mediterranean waters are adding considerably to the Italian High Command’s difficulties in keeping its army in Libya supplied. The submarine Osiris has sunk an Italian supply ship of about 3,000 tons. The submarine Rorqual attacked a convoy of two supply ships escorted by one destroyer \ and torpedoed and sank both Ital- \ ian supply ships. Another Admiralty communique announces that the submarine Phoenix is considerably overdue and must be considered lost. RAID INTO ABYSSINIA KENYA PATROL’S EXPLOIT (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 9. (Received September 10, at 9.50 a.m.) A Cairo communique states that some damage and casualties were caused by an enemy air raid on Matruh. There was little damage and no casualties when the enemy bombed Bura. One of our Kenya patrols advanced to Coral (Abyssinia) where it engaged a strong force of irregulars, inflicting casualties. ITALIAN CLAIMS ROME, September 9. (Received September 10, at noon.) A communique states: Our planes started large fires in an oil refinery at Haifa, hit and bombed ships and dockyards at Alexandria, and also the Alex-andria-Mersa Matruh railway. Our planes attacked Bomba, in the Sudan, and the railway station and oil dumps at Port Sudan. All our planes returned. The enemy bombed Mogadishu, Massawa, and Berbera. There were no casualties. Slight damage was done. An enemy plane was shot down over Moggio. RAID ON ALEXANDRIA DRIVEN OFF ALEXANDRIA, September 9. (Received September 10, at 11.55 a.ni.) Anti-aircraft fire drove off Italian bombers attempting to attack British warships. A few bombs were dropped, and one man was killed and another injured. No military objective was hit.

11 enemy aircraft in all destroyed yesterday. Fuller reports show that in Saturday’s actions 28 enemy aircraft in all were destroyed by anti-aircraft gunfire and 75 by fighters, making the total 103 destroyed on that day. Preliminary reports of this evening’s raid show that 26 enemy aircraft have been destroyed, 24 by fighters and two by anti-aircraft fire. Thirteen of our fighters are missing, but three of the pilots are safe. THE THAMES ESTUARY CHANNEL FDR BRITISH SUPPLIES The Thames Estuary, which has been again bombed in extensive German air raids, is part of one of the meet strategic communication lines of the British Isles (says a writer in the ‘Christian Science Monitor’). It is the vital bottleneck through which a vast stream of food and supplies flow; to Great Britain. Through the broad, funnel-shaped estuary at the mouth of the historic Thames, nearly 30,000 vessels move to and from London annually in normal times. The importance of the estuary to tho'economic life of Britain is even more emphasised when it is remembered that London is the world’s second largest port and that nearly 9,000,000 .people inhabit the Greater London area. The estuary is a triangular area fanning outward from the Nore Lightship, at the river’s mouth. In shape, as in fact, it is a funnel for the foreign and coastwise shipping that travels upriver to the British capital. As many as 1,000 boats a day, including freigners, liners, yachts, barges, and other craft, pass Gravesend, below London. Mud banks and shoals many of them above water at low tide, make navigation difficult in the Thames Estuary. Skilled pilots are almost essential for guiding ships through the narrow channels between the shoals. Tides and currents are constantly scouring the channel and banks, so that never-ending vigilance is necessary to ensure that the shipping lanes remain open and at proper depth. The Thames Estuary is considered to extend to Orfordness, north of Harwich. on the northern side, and out to North Foreland on the south. Between these points and the Nore Lightship at the mouth of the Thames is a triangle approximately 600 square miles in area. The estuary proper, however, is considered to be a smaller area directly off the month of the Thames. The Nore Lightship at the Thames mouth, at the inner point of the estuary, is 160 miles from Rotterdam, 95 miles from Ostend, on the Belgian coast, and 60 miles from the French channel port of Calais. The Tlianies is , about five and one-half miles wide at its mouth, gradually narrowing upstream to the Port of London. Over Loudon’s 1,700 wharves are received and shipped goods valued in normal times at £3,500.000,000 a year or more. London has 700 acres of enclosed dock water and five miles of quays. The docks extend 25 miles below the city. The centre of London is noarlv 48 miles upstream from the mopth of the Thames,

BOMBED FOR THREE HOURS ATTACK OK HAMBURG DOCKS AND SHIPYARDS BADLY DAMAGED SALVO AFTER SALVO OF HEAVY BOMBS DROPPED (British Official Wireless.) Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright RUGBY, September 9. (Received September 10, at 9.30 a.m.) R.A.F. bombers which made a concentrated attack on Hamburg last night were over the docks and shipyards in relays for over three hours. Methodically pinpointing their targets, they released salvo after salvo of heavy bombs and hundreds of incendiary bombs. Repeatedly sticks of heavy bombs were seen to crash across the docks and port installations. Many sticks of high explosives straddled the Blohm and Voss yards. Fires broke out at many parts of the wide target area. Although some died down again others caught on and burned fiercely. The crew of one aircraft saw wharves and the railway station on the north bank of the Elbe burning, another fire at Hanshaffen, and the glow of a third downstream near Altona. One of the early raiders who dropped a stick across the docks saw two fires, begin about 500 yards apart on the north bank close to the mouth of the Elbe tunnel. By 11 p.m. low cloud had formed. The pilot arriving thou said: “We could see little owing to clouds, haze, darkness, and heavy antiaircraft fire, but we did see our bombs straddle the docks.” Bombs could he seen bursting among the dockside buildings while the fierce anti-aircraft barrage continued. More fires broke out, and they were burning fiercely as the bombers left. The glare in the sky over the docks could be seen from 60 miles away by the raiders on the homeward journey. BARGE CONCENTRATIONS ATTACKED, Enemy ports, shipping, and barge concentrations were heavily attacked by the R.A.P. yesterday and last night, according to an Air Ministry communique, which states that in the course of routine reconnaissances yesterday our bombers attacked shipping in the ports of Dunkirk and Boulogne and convoys in the North Sea. Five of our aircraft are missing. Last night, in spite of severe weather conditions over the Continental coastline, strong forces of bombers carried out operations against enemy and enemy-occupied ports, barge concentrations, and shipping at Hamburg, Bremen, Emden, Ostend, Calais, and Boulogne. Widespread damage was done to oil tanks and ammunition stores. Many fires were started. Eight of our aircraft did not return. , BERLIN'S VERSION LONDON, September 9. (Received September 10, at 11.55 p.m.) The German radio, describing the E.A.F. raid on Hamburg, says between CO and 70 bombs fell, destroying 30 dwelling-houses. No military objectives were hit. The British also bombed residential districts in Kiel and Lueneberg. “The British Air Force, too weak and cowardly to meet the Germans in open battle, restricts itself to defence and night attacks against Germany,” it stated. GROSS-CHANNEL SHELLING (By Radio.) DAVENTRY, September 10. There has been an exchange of crossChannel shelling to-u’ay. The noise of the gunfire could be heard in London. R.A.F. bombers took the opportunity of seeking out German gun positions on the French coast and attacked them with success. AIR FORGE CASUALTIES MEW ZEALAND PILOTS [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, September 10. The following Air Force casualties are announced: — Pilot-officer John Fleming, admitted to hospital suffering from injuries as the result of air operations. His mother is Mrs B. S. Fleming, of Wellington. Pilot-officer Kenneth Victor Wendel, killed in air operations. His father is Mr V. Wendel, of Middlemore, Mangore (Auckland). Pilot-officer Robert Gladstone Hall, missing in air operations. His father is Mr A. W. Hall, of Wellington.

CRITICAL MONTH HITLER’S RAGE AGAINST WEATHER HOPES TO GAIN AIR SUPERIORITY IN WEEK OR SO INTENSIFIED RAIDS EXPECTED Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, September 8. A high-placed authority told the Associated Press that the present “ reprisal” attacks on London appear to be a diversion from the German main purpose—namely, an endeavour to cause Britain to use up her fighters, thereby paving the way for unlimited bombing attacks as a prelude to invasion. The German bombing, appears to be limited by the fighter strength available for escort, for which reason, if the necessity to send heavy fighter escorts is reduced, Germany will be able greatly to increase the number of bombers. If this hypothesis is correct it explains why, during Saturday’s attacks against London, when nearly 700 German planes were estimated to have visited Britain, activity outside the capital was comparatively slight. In this endeavour to subjugate the British fighter strength Germany counted on suffering considerable losses, but did not expect to face such stubborn resistance; which well-informed circles believe will be more stubborn as the month proceeds. It is pointed out that September will likely be a very critical month in which Hitler, engaging in a race against the English weather, hopes to gain air superiority in a week or so. Air operations are in a crescendo, but the top note has not yet been reached. Answering queries why formations of bombers from seven to nine are able to reach central London, a high-placed official stressed that it was not possible for fighters to prevent a proportion from penetrating the defences. German night bombing thus far has been largely indiscriminate, though apparently they are endeavouring to copy British attacks against rail communications. CIVILIAN MORALE UNSHAKEN. ‘ The Times,’ in a leader, says; “Many of Saturday’s casualties .were caused by attacks falling on men of the services. The enemy attempted a crushing blow to reassure Germans and strengthen the world’s rapidly-waning estimate of his power and fatally injure England. The raid, however, has not impaired the R.A.F.’s strength, it has not seriously damaged the national war effort, and emphatically it did not shake the civilian morale, which was a large part of the enemy’s purpose. The verdict of the victims was that the experience was a mere incident in the process of winning mastery over a ruthless enemy.” GERMANY PAYING HIGH PRICE LOSES 800 TRAINED AIRMEN IN WEEK (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 8. An air expert estimates that since the start of the intensive' ait warfare against Brittain, Germany has lost in trained personnel more than 4,000 airmen. Official statistics show that from June 17' to September 6 1,688 enemy aircraft of all types were destroyed. Of these up to the end of August 686 were heavy bombers, and 408 fighterbombers. Thus the German losses are out of all proportion to the British losses. . Figures show that during the last week, ended Friday, Germany was deprived of at least 800 trained airmen, against 57 British pilots, for although 143 fighter machines were lost by the British, 86 pilots were reported safe, INACCURATE BOMBING RAIDERS MAINTAIN HIGH ALTITUDE LONDON, September 8. The New York ‘ Herald-Tribune,' commenting on the London raids, says the Germans are putting bigger efforts into these night attacks because they found the defences too strong for daylight raids. The ‘ New York Times ’ says that the bombing was inaccurate. As soon as darkness fell the raiders showed them respect for the searchlights and antiaircraft batteries by maintaining an altitude from which accurate bombing was well-nigh-impossible. It adds that the main victims were the poor, but, as Mr Churchill said, they were facing the attacks grimly but gaily. A Swedish correspondent speaks of buses appearing like a miracle to take people to places of safety. Only the complete absence of panic, this writer says, mitigated the impression of the terrors of modern war. An American journalist who visited the area where the heaviest bombs were dropped, described the damage as less extensive than might have been expected. In one street a whole line of houses had been destroyed, but for the most part he found the damage confined to one or two houses. In the yard of one church he read the legend, “ If your knees quake, kneel on them,” but he did not see any sign of quaking knees. The people were calm, thoughtful, and grim, but there was no evidence of terror. “ It took us 20' years to build our home,” said one elderly couple to the correspondent. “ Twenty ' years of

LEASE OF BASES A STRATEGIC CHAIN WELCOMED BY BRITAIN (British Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyrighf RUGBY, September 8. . Tho strategic importance to defence and common interest afforded by the naval and air bases leased by Britain to America is appreciated when it is realised how effective is the control which can be exercised by adequate naval and air forces stationed at places comprised in the agreement. Newfoundland, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Trinidad, Antigua, and British Guiana form a complete strategic chain. Newfoundland lies athwart tha Gulf of St. Lawrence and the river of the same name, which provides an outlet for the vast series of inland waters comprising . Lakes Ontario, Erie, Huron, Michigan, 'and Superior, With connecting canals and rivers they extend for nearly 500 miles into the interior of Canada in one line of continuous navigation inland. Michigan, with a length of 316 miles,lies wholly in the United States, otherwise the international boundary passes through the centres, and together they furnish for seven months in the year an inlet into the Atlantic from tha heart of western United States and Canada. Bermuda consists of a cluster of about 100 small islands, some 16 of ■which are inhabited. The islands ara about 580 miles from the nearest point on the American coast and 730 miles, from Halifax, Nova Scotia,Bermuda has long been a British naval base lying on the flanks of important trade routes between Britain, Canada, and the United States on one hand, and on the other ocean highways leading to the West Indies and the Panama Canal. The strategic importance of the islands is clear. Further south the Bahamas cover Florida ■ channel and the Windward passage of the northern entrances of the Greater Antilles into the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Naval and air bases in Cuba and San Domingo are already available to us, while Porto Rico and some smaller islands around it, guarding the 150-mile “ Mona passage ” into the Caribbean, are American possessions. Jamaica, however, is some 200 mile* south-west of the Windward passage between Haiti and Cuba, and is less than 600 miles from the Panama Canal, being excellently situated to assist in its seaward defence. Antigua and St. Lucia, in the Lesser Antilles, and Trinidad cover the western approaches to the Panama Canal, roughly 1,300 miles away, together with the Dutch islands of Curacao and Aruba, which are of importance because of their oil supplies obtained from Maraccaibo, in Venezuela. The chain of American defences will be completed by a naval and air base to be established near Georgetown, in British Guiana, on the northern coast of South America, about 350 miles from Trinidad. Well may it be said that the agreement is a matter for congratulation. It has been welcomed all oyer the British Empire as a substantia! sign of the friendship and sympathetic interest which exists between the two great English-speaking democracies of the modern world. AMERICAN DEFENCE BILL SIGNED BY PRESIDENT WASHINGTON, September 9. (Received September 10, at 11.55 a.m.) Mr Roosevelt signed the 500,000,000 dollars Defence Bill.

saving and scraping, and this is all w# have to show,” and they held up som* odds and ends of clothing—“ this am? what we have on our hacks.”NIGHT BOMBINGS PROBLEMS FOR DEFENCE UNITS (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September" 9. (Received September 10, at 10.30 a.m.)' Having suffered considerable losse*, in the daylight air attacks, the Nazi* now appear to be concentrating on night bombings, especially on London, carrying- out these operations with' 4 much smaller number of aeroplanes, and, of course, with a far higher degrea of immunity. The attacks in the last two nights were probably assisted by the only successful day attack—that of Saturday afternoon—-which the German air force has yet succeeded in obtaining, and then only .at a very great loss. London, however, as well as other > centres of highly-concentrated population, must face the certainty of a continuation of night bombing. It it pointed out‘that the problem of the interception of night bombers has not yet been solved, although the British experts are hopeful of reaching a satisfactory answer before the Germans are able to do so. Meanwhile it is stressed that an efficient black-out is the best, defence. Taking last night’s raids as an example, authoritative circles explain the difficulties which are encountered by defence units, both interceptor and ground. As far as the interceptors are concernAl, their task of finding an opponent flying in the darkness at 800 miles an hour is obviously very difficult.