RAIDS ON LONDON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24417, 1 October 1940, Page 7

RAIDS ON LONDON

TWENTY-THREE SO FAR SPIRIT OF THE PEOPLE OBSERVER IMPRESSED (British Official Wireless) (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph--Copyright) RUGBY, Sept. 29. (Received Sept. 30. at 7.30 p.m.) Heavy anti-aircraft fire heralded the twenty-third consecutive air attack on London At the same time, in the early stages of the enemy's appearance over Britain, his bombing aeroplanes seemed also to be visiting verv widelv distant areas. A neutral observer commented on the fact that the famous week-end habit of tire British was now tuined to a new purpose He had noticed that a large number of Londoners of every class had travelled out of London to a quieter area to get at least one good night’s rest in place of repose broken by the noise of pvcrv British and German explosive. What impressed the neutral most was the cheerful spirit with which Londoners packed trains to the metro :olis on Sunday night, ready to face an ordeal of senseless air bombing for another week. He said: “ Far from running away from London, these people seemed to be running back to it. No wonder the British are so hard to understand.” Many Areas Attacked London, South-east England, the Merseyside, and the East Midlands were attacked by enemy bombers during the night. A few bombs were dropped at isolated points, but an Air Ministry and Ministry of Home Security communique states that reports indicate that little damage and few casualties were caused. In the south-east the attacks were mainly concentrated on the south and west of London and on districts in the Home Counties on the southern and western outskirts of the capital. A number of fires were started, which were soon under control. The damage was mainly confined to duelling houses and shops. There were some casualties. On the Merseyside the attacks were less severe than of late, and, though some houses were damaged, no casualties were reported. In the East Midlands high explosive and incendiary bombs were dropped in rural areas, but the damage was slight and there were no casualties. Two were killed and five injured last night by a bomb falling in the middle of a road in a south-western suburb and wrecking two buses and two houses. A family of four sheltering on the ground floor was killed when a bomb hit.a house in a north-western suburb. Several A.R.P. workers were killed when a hall in South London was demolished. The wardens were buried under the debris. A warehouse in a neighbouring street was hit by bombs and the subsequent fire lasted three hours, involving three working-class tenements, the occupants of which were safely evacuated. Many were hurt when they were blown from their beds. Raiders Destroyed An Air Ministry and Home Security communique states: Three enemy aircraft, all bombers, have been destroyed over this ' country since midnight. One which was brought down during the night fouled a balloon cable and crashed into the sea off the south coast. The second was shot down in the Thames Valley by fighters in the morning. Later another -was shot down into the sea off the south-east coast by anti-aircraft guns. Enemy activities over Britain this morning consisted of a few attacks by single aircraft. Some bombs were dropped at points in the Thames Estuary, two towns and villages on the south coast, and a village in the Home Counties. Little damage was done in any of these attacks, and there were a very small number of casualties. An Air Ministry and Home Security communique issued at midnight states; “ Four more enemy bombers were shot down in Southeast England by anti-aircraft fire on Sunday, making seven enemy planes destroyed that day. Two of our fighters were lost, but both the pilots are safe.” Eleven thousand women and children were evacuated from London during the week-end. ■