RAGING FIRES

Evening Star, Issue 23690, 25 September 1940, Page 9

RAGING FIRES

POWER STATIONS SINGLED OUT RAIDS LAST SEVERAL HOURS OBJECTIVES CAREFULLY SELECTED (British Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright RUGBY, September 24. (Received September 25, at 10.55 a.m.) Some idea of the wearing tactics employed over Berlin last night by the R.A.F. may bo gauged from the fact that after the first bombs were dropped shortly before 11 p.m. the bombing continued on an average of about 4J minute intervals for several hours. Throughout those hours British aircraft wore constantly over the city in relays. Some of them remained above their targets anything up to 60 minutes, despite the unfavourable weather conditions, so as to aim their bombs with precision. The heaviest attacks fell upon numerous pre-determined targets—the railway yards, near the Potsdamer and Lehrte railway stations, the West electric power station, and the Moabit and KHngenberg power stations. A ground mist interfered with accurate observation of the results, but severe fires were started at all four points. One aircraft reported eight or nine explosions in the railway sidings after the bombs had been dropped, followed by a very large fire in the railway buildings, which was still seen 23 minutes after the aircraft had left the area. The three power stations took the brunt of this series of attacks. One aircraft started a large fire at the West power station, which was but one of many. At KHngenberg a considerable fire was already burning when one aircraft arrived. By the glow of this fire sticks of bombs were dropped right across the target. Five big fires were started by one aircraft at the Moabit power station, enabling the target to be clearly identified by the following aircraft. Three bombs from one aircraft caused more fires and touched olf explosive material which blew up in a series of vivid flashes' These fires at Moabit were visible 80 miles away. Other Berlin targets, mostly power stations and gasworks, received special attention. . At the Charlottenburg power station four big fifes were observed from one aircraft as it came away. The Friedrichsfeld power station was attacked, and the Wilmersdorf power station was left ablaze. At the Danzigerstrasse gasworks the bombing caused a violent explosion, and the target was left burning furiously. This was one of the night’s most satisfying spectacles. Explosions—seen 23 miles away—wrecked parts of the Neukoln gasworks. At another gasworks in Charlottenburg a large building was quickly gutted by fire and many other fires caused by the aircraft were observed. The railway yards were seen to he hit, and the Tempelhof aerodrome was bombed. The Siemens works, where a large proportion of the electrical equipment for hydrogenation plant is produced, received a direct hit. Here a red oblong-shaped fire started, which spread rapidly. NIGHT BOMBING PLANS TO BEAT THE RAIDERS BRITAIN'S BEST BRAINS AT WORK LONDON, September 23. It is authoritatively stated that Britain’s best scientific brains are concentrating on the task of beating the night bomber. A practical application of recent improvements in defence measures already justifies the hope of fulfilment of Sir Archibald Sinclair’s prophecy that the pleasure of night bombing will cease to be attractive to Goering. The scientists are studying the problem from several directions—improved anti-aircraft fire, higher balloon barrage, searchlights, and speedier fighter interception. New inventions are being searchingly investigated, but, contrary to rumour, no entirely new weapon has yet emerged. It would be a mistake to concentrate on finding a solution applicable only to certain conditions. The defenders aim to make reception so hot in all weathers that even indiscriminate bombing will become so profitless and dangerous that it will be strictly confined. CHILDREN IN LONDON AREA FURTHER PLANS FOR EVACUATION (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 24. (Received September 25, at 12.5 p.m.) Every second child of the London area is at present accommodated in the country districts, and a further evacuation plan for the capital has now been announced by Mr Malcolm MacDonald. The total number of children of school age who have already been evacuated is 464,000, and 428,000 still remain. The present facilities include provision for the evacuation of school children and homeless children of any age, with mothers, but these are to bo extended to include mothers with children of any age, whether homeless or not. The scheme is applicable in the first instance to certain of the most hard-pressed areas. Mothers in these areas are being asked to register at food and rest centres.

GLAMOUR FOR REPRISALS GROWING DEMAND IN BRITAIN TIME TO BRING SUBJECT INTO OPEN Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, September 24. The ‘ Daily Mail ’ says in a leader that letters are pouring in to every newspaper office from angry readers demanding reprisals for the hideous bombing of London’s citizens. 11 Everywhere in bombed areas the same cry is heard. The demand for reprisals simply cannot be ignored, and it is time to bring out the whole subject into the open. We must again define indiscriminate bombing and military objectives. Our Government says 10 millions in Greater London are subjected to indiscriminate bombing. That is true, but is it the whole truth P Bombs which have killed or wounded thousands of civilians have mostly fallen near docks, bridges, railways, gas and electricity works, telephone exchanges, cross roads, the Sovereign’s home, and the Government offices. It could scarcely be otherwise, for big cities’ vital services exist alongside the homes of the people. “ Under the German conception of total warfare no centre of population is exempt from attack, and the city itself is a military objective. Britain is aiming at Germany’s military nerve centre, while Germany is aiming at Britain’s civilian nerve centre. We must make up our mind whether Germany is attacking legitimate objectives. “ Hitler wants total warfare and we should satisfy him. The German code permits the bombing of London, so we have the right to attack similar objectives in Berlin. To say that there won’t be reprisals against civilians is to tell Goering to ‘ go ahead and bomb the people of London, we will not bomb the people of Berlin.’ Must we give an open cheque to murder?” PROBLEM OF SHELTERS.

The indiscriminate bombing of the .London civilian population has raised in an acute form the problem of night shelters, and the Government’s policy on this question was referred to by the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Home Security, Mr W. Mabane. Mr Mabane said the current programme oi shelter production was being accelerated, and there was no shortage of labour for rapid building. Other schemes outlined included a substantial increase in the number of shelters available for the whole of every day and the opening of basements where these were strong enough. This would bo applied to blocks of flats which were unoccupied and possibly occupied houses. Mr Mabane also said that the shelters would be provided with bunks, double or triple banked, so that they could be used as dormitories. A million of these bunlks would be made at once. First aid posts were being established in the large shelters. Speaking of the tube stations, many of which were already used by the public as night shelters, Mr Mabane said that this was now being recognised, and arrangements were now being made to provide for supervision and adequate sanitary arrangements. BALLOON CREWS PERFORMING VALUABLE SERVICE AIR CHIEFS TRIBUTE (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 24. (Received September 23, at 9.20 a.m.) The gallantry and devotion to duty of the balloon crews were warmly praised in the following message from Air-Marshal Sir Cyril Newall to Air Vice-Marshal Boyd, air officer commanding the Balloon Command : —“ At the conclusion of a year of war I must convey to you my admiration of the splendid way in which the balloon crews in your command have performed their duties. They have throughout been called upon to work 'long hours, often in conditions of much discomfort and exposed to all weathers. Until recently members of your command have had few opportunities of service of a spectacular nature. On the other baud, their success cannot be measured by the number of enemy aircraft they bring down, but by the general efficiency with which they play their part in air defence. By keeping the enemy bombers and fighters at a height where they can bo effectively engaged by our fighters or anti-aircraft fire, they have been invaluable members of a team upon the success of whose whole operations the safety of the entire country depends. With the opening up of air warfare over this country on a large scale during the past month, many balloon crows have carried out duties of a most spectacular and successful nature. often under heavy attack from the enemy.” CONTROL OF BUILDING BRITISH LICENSING SYSTEM (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 24. (Received September 25, at 12.13 p.m.) Air R. Assheton, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour, who is chairman of the Government Works and Building Priority Committee, announces direct Government control over building and civil engineering works by a licensing system coming into operation on October 7. No license is needed for operations undertaken by a Government department. The operations are paid for, in whole or in part, by' the Government in the case of operations costing less than £SOO and maintenance works, repairs, or decorations Special arrangements have been made to release controlled material for urgent building work necessitated by air-raid damage.