KING MOVED BY SUFFERING

Southland Times, Issue 24228, 11 September 1940, Page 5

KING MOVED BY SUFFERING

Tour Of Raided Areas In East London

NEW YORK, September 9. A United States Agency correspondent sums up the damage in the two latest raids on London as heavy, but not serious in relation to the size of the city. “It is no worse,” he says, “than a bad cut on the face while shaving.” The King, during a tour of the raided areas in the east and south-east of London was obviously moved. He saw A.R.P. workers still searching for bodThe raiders on Sunday night bombed a hospital in the London area which was unoccupied. It had been reserved for raid casualties. They reduced a three story wing to rubble. Another wing was damaged. A bomb striking a museum caused a fire which burned off the roof of the east wing. Another bomb demolished a house immediately opposite and a third damaged another house nearby. Another museum in the London area was also damaged. LOYALTY OF PEOPLE The King has sent a message to Mr Emil Davies, chairman of the London County Council, expressing the distress with which he heard the news of the air-raids on Saturday. He added that the suffering of the people of London, and elsewhere was much in his thoughts. Mr Davies, in acknowledging the message assured his Majesty that the people remained constant in their loyalty and fortitude. The present month is regarded in informed quarters as probably the most critical period of the war. Having suffered considerable losses in daylight air attacks, 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 of 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 very great loss. NIGHT BOMBING 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 British experts are hopeful of reaching a satisfactory answer before the Germans are able to do so. Meanwhile, it is emphasized that an efficient black-out is the best defence. Taking last night’s raids as an example, authoritative circles explain

the difficulties which are encountered by the defence, both interceptor and ground. As far as interceptors are concerned, their task of finding an opponent flying in darkness at 300 miles an hour is obviously very difficult.