DAMAGE TO FAMOUS STREETS

Southland Times, Issue 24235, 19 September 1940, Page 7

DAMAGE TO FAMOUS STREETS

An air-raid warning which sounded soon after the session of the House of Commons began was in operation while the Prime Minister, Mr Winston Churchill, was speaking. Apart from 15 minutes suspension because of the reported imminence of raiders, the sitting was continued without interruption throughout the warning period, which lasted about 90 minutes.

The West End, which contains London’s best-known shopping streets, hotels and large private houses, suffered most in last night’s raid on London. Among the streets which were damaged were Bond street, Oxford street, Mayfair, Bruton street, Park lane, Saville Row, Regent street and Piccadilly. The Royal Arcade, Burlington Arcade, Burlington House, the headquarters of the Royal Academy, Burlington Gardens and the two famous squares, Berkeley Square and Sloane Square, also suffered damage. Thus, the Nazis’ self-termed “reprisal raids” continue to strike at purely civil targets. WELL-KNOWN SHOPS SUFFER The West End sufferers in last night’s raids included well-known shops, some of which are closed. Others are carrying on behind empty glassless windows. A bomb fell in a big house and killed four men working on the ground floor. They were buried under the ruins. Five rescue workers speeding to their aid were injured when a bomb landed in a nearby street. It is feared that some persons taking shelter were buried • when a highexplosive bomb completely wrecked two shops. Mrs Amy Noel, Commandant of the Women’s Legidn, Miss Aileen Cooper, senior company commander, and Miss Phyllis Phillips, senior company leader, were killed by a bomb on Sunday night when operating a mobile canteen in. the London area. The Dominions Secretary (Lord Caldecote) stated in the House of •Lords that for the week ended September- 10, rescue services in five London boroughs were called out on 169 occasions and saved 216 lives. A “HITLER NIGHT”

Soon after 8 p.m. Londoners had their fifth air raid warning of the day and heavy anti-aircraft gunfire was soon heard in Central London as well as in suburban districts. Citizens, heartened by Mr Churchill’s tribute to their courage, again settled down to a “Hitler night” with the adaptability for which the Cockney spirit is • renowned Every variety of communal amusement is now resorted to by neighbours sheltering together while “they are overhead,” and it is difficult for the onlooker to realize in the words of a neutral observer, how the Germans can fondly imagine that they are terrorizing these patient, cheerful, undaunted people. An Air Ministry and Ministry of

Home Security communique issued at 11 p.m. states:

“Enemy activity was on a small scale on Tuesday until the early afternoon. Although bombs were dropped in widely scattered’districts in south and south-east England little damage was done, but a small number .of people was killed or injured in south-west London. At Portsmouth a church and several houses were hit, and a small number of people injured. “About 3.15 p.m. several large waves of enemy aircraft crossed the coast of Kent flying in the direction of London, and a large force was dispatched to intercept the enemy. No major battle took place, but contact was made over Kent. The enemy promptly scattered and did not penetrate further inland .than Maidstone.”

It is now known that only 11 British pilots were lost in Sunday’s air battles.

NEW ZEALAND AIRMEN AWARDED D.F.C.

LONDON, September 17.

Flying Officer Brian George Carbury, of Wellington, and Pilot Officer Michael James Herrick, of Hastings, have been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Flying Officer Carbury led his section against two planes operating on the north-east coast. He destroyed both. He was almost continually engaged from August 28 to September 2 against large enemy raids over Kent, in which he destroyed eight raiders, of which five were brought down in three successful engagements in one day. Pilot Officer Herrick during an interception patrol on September 4 destroyed two planes and succeeded in closing up to within 30 yards of the second, which fell to pieces under his fire.

AUSTRALIAN GRANT TO AID PEOPLE

(Received September 18, 6.30 pjn.) SYDNEY, September 18. The Commonwealth Government has decided to make a grant of £50,000 for the relief of distress in Britain caused by the bombing of civilians. Sydney’s fund has reached £72,000.

CONTRIBUTIONS FROM COLONIES (British Official Wireless) ' (Received September 18, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, September 17. The Basuto tribe, numbering little more than 500,000, has contributed £10,518 of a total of £20,000 which the Basutoland War Fund has now reached. Bermuda has sent £lO,OOO as a second contribution towards the cost of the war, asking that the money be spent on two Spitfires to be named Bermuda.