WAR DIARY.

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

WAR DIARY.

AIR RAIDS INTENSIFY,

The past week has seen the development of the long-expected Nazi blitzkrieg against Britain in the form of indiscriminate and heavy air raids on London, followed by intensification of the R.A.F. offensive against Germany. The main items in the news are summarised as follow:- — September 7.—Heavy air attacks against London, especially the East End and dockyards, by German Air Force. Over 300 persons killed and 1337 seriously injured. Germans lose 103 planes and R.A.F. 23. Severe British raids on Channel ports and strategic Nazi centres.

September 8. —Nazi air blitzkrieg on London continues with heavy night bombing. Casualties among civilians estimated at 286 dead and about 1400 seriously injured. Italian raid on British warships at Alexandria driven off. Enemy ports, shipping and barge concentrations heavily attacked by R.A.F.

September 9- —Indiscriminate night bombing of London, with heavy damage to non-military objectives, continues. R.A.F. retaliate with damaging attacks against Germany and occupied countries.

Septeml>er 10. —Further destruction in London through Nazi bombing: Fires in vicinity of St. Paul’s Cathedral and Church of St. Mary-le-Bow. Britain’s food supplies declared to he little affected. R.A.F. rains -bombs on vital German centres, including Bremen, Hamburg, Kiel, Essen, and Wilhelmshaven. French India rallies to General de Gaulle. More R.A.F. raids on Italian Africa.

September 11.—Buckingham Palace damaged by delayed-action bomb. Nazi raiders driven back from Central London in heaviest anti-aircraft barrage of war. King and Queen visit bombed areas. Mr Churchill rallies nation with stirring speech, warning against imminent danger of invasion by sea. Heavy R.A.F. raids on Berlin; extensive fires and damage observed. Italians raid Tel Aviv (Palestine), causing 112 deaths and 151 injured. French Channel ports relentlessly bombed bv R.A.F. September 12.—Raiders'on London repulsed by terrific anti-aircraft barrage in which new methods of aeroplane prediction are employed. Dutch donate 58 aircraft for use of Britain. Most extensive raids on Germany by R.A.F.; big fires started in North German cities. Arabs unite with Jews in protesting at Tel Aviv raid. September 13.—Buckingham Palace deliberately raided by Nazi aircraft in daylight. Kjng and Queen, in shelters below Palace, 'escape. Railways anti other objectives on Continent severely battered by It.A.F.