NIGHT BOMBING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24400, 11 September 1940, Page 7

NIGHT BOMBING

FINDING A COUNTER PROBLEM FOR EXPERTS BRITISH MORALE UNSHAKEN (British Official Wireless) (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) RUGBY, Sept. 9. (Received Sept. TO, at 7 p.m.) The.opinion is expressed in informed circles to-day that until means of dealing adequately with night bombing have been evolved—a problem Which is occupying the close attention of both British and German experts—civilian morale was the most important single factor in the war to-day. Judgment, even by neutral journalists, of German morale is difficult, perhaps impossible to obtain, because the Gestapo effectively prevents expression

In Britain very different conditions nrevail. Freely are views propounded and the reaction to recent experiences are easy to assess. Consequently the views of neutral observers in London afford valuable evidence of how the ordinary “ man in the street” is standing up to the aerial attack and is a valuable guide in estimating how the battle for world freedom is. progressing. Such observers obtain the free opinion of free people, and a broadcast yesterday by an American journalist, Mr John Macdane, is of interest and importance.

“It was,” Mr Macdane said, “ pretty unpleasant during the second raid because everyone felt that they were right on the target. But during it all ambulances and trucks kept on rolling up to shelters, taking aboard 20 or 30 women and children, and rolling away again with them. The spirit of the people was nothing short of wonderful. People who lost their homes and relatives weren’t happy, but I saw hundreds of women and not one crying. One policeman looked at the lines of homeless people, then he spat in a disgusted'manner and said, “To think we give those Nazi airmen tea when they land here.” The wife of an hotel keeper who had an hotel not more than 300 or 400 yards from the docks, said: “I was going to celebrate my forty-first wedding anniversary to-night, and my old man was going to take me out to supper, but -I guess I’ll have to celebrate here.” Then she laughed and called for a round of drinks for the customers. Task of Interceptors Having suffered considerable losses in the daylight air a'tacks, the Nazis now appear to be concentrating on night bombings, especially on London, carrying out these operations with a much smaller number of aeroplanes, and. of course, with a far higher degree of immunity. The attacks in the last two nights were probably assisted by the only successful day attack—that of Saturday afternoon—which the German air force has yet succeeded in obtaining, and then only at a very great loss.

London, however, as well as other centres of highly-concentrated population. must face the certainty of a continuation of night-bombing. It is pointed out that the problem of the interception of night bombers has not yet been solved, although the British experts are hopeful of reaching a satisfactory, answer before the Germans are able to do so. Meanwhile it is stressed that an efficient blackout is the best defence. Taking last night’s raids as an example, authoritative circles explain the difficulties which are encountered by defence units, both interceptor and ground, As far as the interceptors are concerned, their task of finding an opponent flying in the darkness at 300 miles an hour is obviously very difficult. 1 GERMAN PRESS THREAT

MORE INTENSE BOMBING WEST END MENTIONED SIGNS OF DESPERATION LONDON, Sept. 10. (Received Sept 11, at 0.30 a.m.) A bomb hit a children’s hospital and six nurses were killed Another hit a maternity hospital A highexplosive bomb in a south -east London district made a huge crater in the roadway, hurling into the air one of several stationary tramcars The “All clear ” was given after 9 hours 6 minutes. After seven hours heavy bombs were still falling in the Central London area. Two Central London hos pitals were directly hit Planes were continually heard overhead. The German press is threatening more intense bombing, and declares that London's West End may be attacked if British raids continue over Germany. The Hamburger Fremdenblatt says; “ The greater part of the English capital, particularly the homes and amusemen places of those circles from whom sprang those who are guilty for this war hitherto were intentionally spared. After the recent R.A.F, attacks on German civilians, however, it is concluded that the Luftwaffe’s lessons have not been taken to heart.” The British raids are described as another act of piracy and a brutal act of terrorism against civilians.