NAZI AIRBLITZ

Evening Star, Issue 23689, 24 September 1940, Page 7

NAZI AIRBLITZ

LONDON RAIDS CONTINUE RELAYS OF ENEMY ATTACKERS FORMATIONS BROKEN BY BRITISH FIGHTERS Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright - LONDON, September 23. (Received September 24, at 8 a.m.) Raiders appeared over Central London during the night. High explosives demolished a number of houses in North-west London. Several persons are reported to have been killed ■when a high-explosive bomb crashed into a section of a large block of flats. South-west London, and coastal towns were also attacked. An Air Ministry and Home Security communique states that the enemy' activities consisted of attacks by relays of single aircraft. The main objective was again London, where the attacks were widely scattered. Houses and industrial premises were damaged in several localities, and there were a number of casualties, •ome fatal. Bombs also fell in some south-eastern towns, causing some damage and several casualties. A German High Command source estimates that the Germans since August 10 have dropped over 50,000,0001 b of bombs on Britain, destroying or seriously damaging 6,000 factories and industrial plants, of which 1,400 were in the London area. Low-flying raiders bombed a workingclass district in a south-western town and damaged 24 houses. A passenger train was bombed and machine-gunned while standing at a south-east country station. Every window in the train was blown out, but there were no casualties. Four separate waves of German bombers and fighters crossed the coast in the morning. Two Messerschmitts were shot down by our anti-aircraft units, and our fighters broke up the formations. The raiders then broke off the engagements and fled in disorder across the Channel. “ THAT MAN AGAIN " HOW LONDONERS GREET SIRENS LONDON, September 23. (Received September 24, at 8 a.m.) 1 Londoners faced the sixteenth successive night raid when German bombers appeared over the capital on Sunday night. A German broadcast, gloating: -that- ‘‘ Londoners-are allowed to spend the night in underground stations,” and ‘‘it is now learned that during the last 48 hours Londoners have had to spend 15 hours in air raid shelters,” has shown an utter lack of understanding of the spirit in which such ‘‘ cover ” is taken. The adaptation of Londoners to the new night life, necessitated by the threat of murder from the sky, is glowingly praised by neutral correspondents, one of whom suggests that the Germans are far from the mark if they are mistaking Cockney common sense for panic or fear. The attitude of Londoners is summed up by a catch phrase continually heard with comic emphasis when the sirens sound: “It’s that man again.” RELIEF OF DISTRESS SOUTH AFRICA’S BIG CONTRIBUTION (British Official Wireless.) RDgSy, September 23. (Received September 24, at 9.15 a.m.) South Africa raised approximately £IOO,OOO in the first week of the London civil distress fund appeal. “ SULPHUROUS GLOWS " NAZIS’ NEW WEAPON ? LONDON. September 23. Ghastly sulphurous glows filling the sky in quick succession added a new . feature to the terrifying spectacles over London. The glows appeared to be too prolonged for shell bursts and too short for flares, although they illuminated big areas. Both plane and anti-aircraft activity was exceptionally slight during the first two hours of the night alarm, •which was sounded earlier than usual. Then the raiders attacked in groups of threes and fours. The barrage opened a thunderous roll, and there was not a moment’s peace for over an hour. High explosives were dropped in the south-east and north-west. A heavy rainstorm descended on the Straits of Dover, and a strong southwesterly kept the seas comfortably high 1 for those on this side of the Channel. The north regional commissioner for civil defence warned the public to resume carrying gas masks, saying that if invasion comes from the seas gas will most probably be used. The Air Ministry announced that air activity in daylight was confined to isolated raids. A Kentish church was shattered by bombs. This is the fourth church to be demolished in the district by bombs. Raiders caused further casualties in south-east towns in the afternoon. While a “ spotter ” watched for raiders hundreds of shop girls in Oxford street spent Saturday and Sunday clearing bomb wreckage and arranging improvised counters for opening on Monday. “ Bomb sales ” will be a feature of Oxford street this autumn, j

THREE DAYLIGHT ALARMS FIRST APPEARANCE OF HUGE GERMAN BOMBER LONDON, September 23. (Received September 24, at 10.45 a.m.) There were three alerts during the clay. The first occurred in the morning,

when 200 raiders attempted to reach the city, but only got to the eastern outskirts. A lone raider caused the second alarm. A now gigantic four-engined German bomber and three formations of nine bombers each crossed the Kent coast this morning. Hying at a terrific height, thus outranging the anti-aircraft defences. Spitfires and Hurricanes broke

up the formations. The giant was last seen speeding towards the Channel hotly pursued. A raider dropped 12 high explosive bombs on Eastbourne’s working class district. There were no deaths. The Ministry of Home Security is manufacturing millions of earplugs for distribution to local authorities, who are arranging a general issue similarly to gas masks.