HEAVY LONDON BARRAGE

Southland Times, Issue 24242, 27 September 1940, Page 5

HEAVY LONDON BARRAGE

GUNS BEGIN ALMOST AT SUNSET (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received September 26, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 26. London’s barrage splashed the sky with metal ceaselessly for hours tonight while raiders were doing their utmost to reach the central area. The wisdom of millions who have readjusted their route to enable the winding-up of the day’s doings before dark was justified when the guns blazed almost as soon as daylight left the sky. The raiders opened the nineteenth night’s attack with the usual battle with the ground defences. They first attempted to come into central London from the north-west and south, single planes apparently testing the vigilance of the gun crews. They took no chance with the capital’s mammoth battery and flew higher than usual in an effort to evade the terrific response from below. Londoners underground felt the city shaking as the guns gave a hot reception to the early scouts. Night raiders over Wales, the north-west and the Midlands dropped many bombs, particularly in a north-west town which experienced its 121st raid since the outbreak of war.

Fires were started in London, and but for the efficiency of the fire-fight-ers the damage might have been heavy. The Germans flew higher and faster in their attempts to penetrate the capital’s defences, but they had little success and numbers of them dropped their bombs on the outskirts before turning for home. A West London suburb had its heaviest hammering of the war. A parish church in London and a convent in the south-east of England were hit. Two wings of the convent were burned out, but the nuns escaped. It is feared that many valuable books and paintings were lost in the convent.

The Dean and Chaplain of St. Paul’s Cathedral have decided to erect a memorial on the spot from which the gigantic time-bomb was removed recently. On the memorial will be placed the names of the gallant men who removed it.

BANKS TO STAY OPEN IN AIR RAIDS

(British Official Wireless)

(Received September 26, 6.30 p.m.)

RUGBY, September 25. Banks will keep open for the transaction of urgent business during air raid warnings in accordance with a decision of the Committee of London Clearing Bankers. If it is necessary for the staff to shelter during the period of danger services will still be provided, though there may be cases where the offices cannot be opened to the public.