TERRIFIC BARRAGE

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

TERRIFIC BARRAGE

NAZI BOMBERS OVER LONDON RAIDERS RETREAT IN DISORDER WIDESPREAD ACTIVITY REPORTED LONDON, September 24. (Received September 25, at 10 a.m.) After a break of only a few hours Germany resumed the blitzkrieg against England this morning, when 100 bombers and fighters crossed the Kent coast. A large formation of Germans was later seen proceeding up the Thames Estuary, and was met by a terrific barrage, dogfights occurring as the raiders retreated. one fighter plunging into the sea. A British communique states that enemy planes bombed London in several places, hitting and damaging houses and several industrial premises and causing some deaths. Houses were also demolished in south-eastern and northwetern districts. A high explosive scored a direct hit on a London office building and wrecked the upper floors. A south-east coastal area had its longest night raid since the outbreak of the war. Two bombs landed on a famous cricket ground, damaging two pavilions. The raiders on London last night repeated the tactics of dropping calcium carbide incendiaries to illuminate the ground. Searchlights were active, and guns .and lights co-operated perfectly to trap and destroy two planes in the inner London area. The raiders swept on to London and many parts of the provinces, and bombs fell in central London and on the southern and eastern outskirts. The raiders twice attacked a south-east coastal town, two towns in the north-west of England, and towns in the Midlands, Wales, and the north-east of England. A bomb falling on a hospital in the south-east was the twenty-second on or near the building since the blitzkrieg began. Twenty-one Dorniers appeared over the Kent coast in the second daylight mass attack on London. Waves of Messerschmitts circled around the bombers, which encountered fierce antiaircraft fire and were driven back after 10 minutes. NOT ON A LARGE SCALE SCOPE OF ENEMY ATTACKS (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 24. (Received September 25, at 1.30 p.ra.) During the morning two enemy formations consisting of bombers and escorted by large numbers of fighters made attacks across the Kent coast and in the area of the Thames Estuary. Neither force penetrated London. Some bombs were dropped on Thames-side towns and a number of districts in East Kent. Damage was caused to houses and buildings. The number of casualties were small. Early in the afternoon an enemy attack was made on the Southampton area. Some buildings were damaged and a number of casualties were caused. Enemy activity was not on a large scale, but in attacks by single aircraft bombs were dropped on a number of districts, including Brighton, and damage was caused to houses and business premises. A number of casuatlies are reported. Of four of our fighters lost, the pilots of two are safe. It is now established that two enemy bombers were shot down by anti-air-craft guns on Monday night. UNDERGROUND COURTS FAMOUS SHOPPING CENTRE'S REACTION TO BOMBINGS LONDON, September 24. (Received September 25, at 8 a.m.) Plans are being considered for building underground civil and criminal courts in London. Air raid warnings have resulted in a great hold-up of the lists. Two of the four courts with glass roots are promptly closed during the raids. The judges at the Old Bailey are at present contending with one of the heaviest calendars for many months. Slightly bewildered for several days after the Luftwaffe’s vicious bombing and blasting, Oxford street, world famous among women, has partially recovered its old allure. Several large stores arc unable to reopen, but one put two girls at a pavement desk in a side street to deal with inquiries. Many came to see the damage in Oxford street and remained to shop. Women do not have to go into shops nowadays and finger materials appraisingly. When a big store in Oxford street was reopened the windows were elegantly dressed, but customers pointing to models wore surprised to find that the usual glass barrier was not there. COURAGEOUS CIVILIAN SAVED PEOPLE TRAPPED IN SHELTER LONDON, September 24. (Received September 25. at 11.40 a.m.) Choked, blinded, and endangered by falling earth and concrete, Maurice Vent, a member of an A.fR.P. unit, flung himself down an escape shaft in an East London shelter in an attempt to save those trapped. He handed 14 through the shaft to safety. A bomb had ploughed a 10ft crater in the earth beside the shelter, throwing down a section of the wall on the families sleeping under it. Several were killed, including a father, mother, and three children.

EIGHT GERMAN PLANES DOWN REPORTS UP TO 10 P.M. LONDON, September 24. (Received September 25, at noon.) Reports up to 10 p.m, show that eight German planes were shot down. We lost four, but one pilot is sate. NAZI VERSION BERLIN, September 24. (Received September 25, at 11.25 a.m.) A communique states: “ Our bombers attacked London by night. Strong fires were observed near Mill wall and the India Docks, also near Whitehall, Hyde Park, and elsewhere. Large fires were started at Liverpool. We bombed Cambridge as a reprisal for the bombing of Hcsselbcrg. British planes last night caused damage in the outskirts of Berlin. Several civilians were killed and injured. There was no military damage. The enemy yesterday lost 25 planes. Six of ours are missing.”- j