BOMBS ON PARIS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 158, 5 June 1940, Page 8

BOMBS ON PARIS

DETAILS OF CASUALTIES. WIDESPREAD DAMAGE. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) PAitlfc), June 3. Paris had its first large-scale air raid ol the war when, according to an official announcement, 1050 bombs falling in an area nine miles wide killed 45 and injured 149. , The city itself had eight killed and 54 injured, and the suburbs 37 killed and 95 injured. Eighty-three bombs fell in Paris itself. Between 240 and 300 German ’planes participated. Six buildings were'destroyed or severely damaged in Paris and 91 in the outskirts. The buildings hit included eight schools.

It is officially stated that ten children were killed and 18 injured in one school. Thirteen fires were started in Paris and 48 in the suburbs. The raiders, coming in waves of 25, apparently aimed at aerodromes and other objectives around Paris, but most of the bombs fell in the western districts far from military targets. One fell on a seven-storCy block of flats, killing two persons. Another reduced a district post office to a heap of rubble.

SPARE BOMBS DROPPED. The departing bombers apparently dumped their spare bombs on the western and northern suburbs at random. Fighters went up instantly and the anti-aircraft guns blazed. The total German losses cannot yet be revealed, but a spokesman said: \\ e got plenty.” Nobody taking refuge in shelters was hurt. Those who suffered casualties were victims of their own temerity, not sheltering or at least- not going to the lowest floors of buildings. A bomb tore through an eight-storey building to the second floor. Most Parisians obeyed the alarm instantly, and schoolchildren marched in an orderly manner to the shelters. Anger was evident everywhere, but there was no panic. . ' Several bombs fell in the Le Bonrget region The bombs broke thousands ot windows, affecting buildings several blocks-away. "' • The American Ambassador (Mr \Y. C. Bullitt) and others with him were showered with flying glass. Every window in the room where they were lunching was shattered.