PART OF LONDON SUFFERS

Southland Times, Issue 24230, 13 September 1940, Page 5

PART OF LONDON SUFFERS

NAZIS DROP LOADS INDISCRIMINATELY SUCCESS OF POLISH SQUADRON (United Press Assn. —Telegraph Copyright) (Received September 13,12.30 a.m.) LONDON, September 12. Bombs rained on a section of London during the second raid today. Apparently when fighters headed the bombers from the centre of London they unloosed their loads indiscriminately. The battle raged from the coast to the Thames Estuary and back again. Darkness enabled fresh forces of invaders to penetrate the London area, which soon reverberated with gunfire and exploding bombs. The Germans opened theii - attack about 3 p.m. Within a few minutes two formations totalling 275 bombers and fighters crossed the coast. Most of the raiders immediately headed for London, apparently mrking for the docks, but only a small portion got through. The rest were scattered and fled back across the Channel after jettisoning their bombs, most of which fell in Surrey and Sussex woods. Seven raiders at one time were ringed by exploding shells. The noise shook London, but it was almost the cheerful noise of a great city fighting back. Millions of tired but greatly cheered Londoners have now been listening for hours to the most amazing anti-aircraft barrage. Sleep has become impossible in all but deep shelters. Shrapnel is incessantly raining on streets and buildings throughout London. A WALL OF STEEL Nobody now doubts that the Hun has met more than he bargained for on his fifth night of murdering. Never has such a wall of steel been flung up in history. The Germans appear to be finding it most difficult to penetrate the barrage. Early this morning they seemed to be using single fast machines which were coming over at 10-minute intervals in an effort to reach central London, but all raced back when they met the withering fire. The raiders became more active as the night wore on; bombs seemed as numerous as guns. The Polish Squadron was again in the forefront on Wednesday afternoon. Of 80 raiders shot down, including 43 bombers, the Poles destroyed seven bombers and seven fighters. It is officially stated that reports to midnight indicate that at least 90 raiders were destroyed on Wednesday. An Air Ministry communique states that the majority of the bombs so faxdropped on London ranged from 25 to 1001 b, with a small percentage of 2501 b bombs.

Some 10001 b bombs were dropped on the docks. These are believed to be the heaviest types that Germany possesses, but are considered uneconomical.