BARBAROUS GERMAN RAID

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 246, 14 September 1940, Page 7

BARBAROUS GERMAN RAID

BOMBS ON ROYAL PALACE

KING AND QUEEN ESCAPE

DELIBERATE ATTACK MADE

(United Press Association.—Copyright.—Bee. 10 a.m.) (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Sept. 13.

“Following last night’s ineffective attacks, in which bombs were dropped in London at random through heavy clouds, a small number of enemy aircraft to-day deliberately'bombed a number of conspicuous buildings in various parts of London, irrespective of their nature. It is feared the enemy succeeded in killing and injuring a number of ‘civilians.”

Buckingham Palace was attacked, several bombs falling within the precincts, one of which damaged the Palace chapel. Their Majesties were in residence, but fortunately escaped injury. Three members of the Palace staff were injured. Incendiary bombs also fell in Downing Street, but did no damage, says a communique issued by the Air Ministry and Ministry of Home Security.

DAMAGE TO PALACE

In the attack on the Palace, which occurred during the second raid, lasting four hours, tile enemy dropped five bombs in rapid succession. Two tell in fine inner, quadrangle, the third' hit the private chapel, and the remaining two fell in the roadway between the Palace gates and the Victoria. Memorial.

Their Majesties were in a shelter, and’ the'members of the staff were also in shelters beneath the Palace.

The Royal Chapel, which was wrecked, is in the south wing close to the Ambassadors’ entrance. The bombs which fell in the quadrangle eaused two large craters, burst a watermain, shattered windows, and pitted the walls. The piano which bombed Buckingham Palace dropped a stick of bombs across a famous square. Two fell in areas of houses, two in a roadway, and one nearly hit a wfell-known peer’s house.

A spotter on a nearby building said the plane which bombed the Palaco came out of the clouds right over the Palace. It was not an indiscriminate bombing, but a' definite attack. Soon after the raid, Their Majesties, apparently unshaken, left'the Palace to continue the tour arranged yesterday of the London areas in which the bomb damage is heaviest.

TWIN-ENGINED RAIDER. A twin-engined plane bombed Buckingham Palace. It was seen diving from the clouds and the pilot, as ho came over the Palace, appeared to cut out his engines. x The whistle of bombs and the explosions were heard in rapid succession. Pieces of stone masonry fell on Buckingham Palace road. One piece of stone smashed an electric light lamp in the centre of the road The pilot then restarted his engines and disappeared into the clouds. Ono bomb completely wrecked the Royal Chapel. Their Majesties’ Royal apartments and shelters arc situated on the opposite side of the Palace in the north wing. Three members of the staff whose shelter was near the wrecked chapel were slightly injured. The bombs which fell in the roadway started a fire, which was quickly extinguished. Other incendiaries fell near the Palace,

PROVIDENTIAL ESCAPE. Soldiers from the Wellington Barracks assisted in extinguishing the fires. ' Their Majesties, after walking through the cellars, talking with members of the staff, inspected the wrecked chapel. The following telegram was forwarded to the King by the War Cabinet to-day:

“The War Cabinet offers hearty congratulations to Their Majesties on their providential escape from the barbarous attack made on their home and Royal persons.” The King replied: “The Queen and I are so grateful to the War Cabinet for their kind message. Like so many other people, we have now had personal experience of German barbarity, which only strengthens the resolution of all of us to fight to final victory.”

An air raid warning sounded for the third time to day in the mid-afternoon, but lasted only a few minutes. DAMAGE IN REGENT STREET. A delayed-action bomb extensively damaged the fronts of three shops in Regent Street this evening. Windows of buildings on both sides of the street were blown out. The Piccadilly Hotel was also slightly damaged. . Haiders dropped a number of mcendiary bombs in the north-west suburbs. Their planes droned towards Central London, where the gunfire rose to a shattering roar, rattling windows anc spraying shrapnel on the rooftops and streets. Then followed a long interval of silence, suggesting that fewer planes were participating or that the barrage had prevented the penetration of the outer defences. . „ „ v There is no foundation for the Berlin claim that a bomb hitßeuter s building in Fleet Street. The building m fact is untouched. In the outskirts of London there has been occasional activity. , ~ The Midlands had the longest raid of the war. extending for several hours. High-explosive bombs and incendiaries were dropped over a wide area and a mental hospital was hit. , The German long-range Channel guns were silent to-day. LONDON'S DEADLY GUNS. The Daily Mail says that the London anti-aircraft batteries are using gun of at least six different cal ? br ®f to 4.5 in. which is the most deadly of all anti-aircraft guns. Secret new types of shells are bur 22.000 ft, and their explosions rock the ether over a wide area. ' ' ■ The heavier guns put up a box- yp of barrage, which is sent up in squares from many sections, while the b guns terrifically barrage raiders w - attempt to dive-bomb their targei . • these guns the Bofors are the dea • Uncanny electric predictors enable gunners to harass the-raiders. , ■ ■ Britain’s anti-aircraft defences not been weakened in any district to provide London’s harrage, whi be increased if necessary. The Bofors is a light anti-aircraft gun of Swedish design, firin^ 10Q. rounds a minute.