WAR MARK ON ST. PAUL'S.

Taihape Daily Times, 13 February 1919, Page 3

WAR MARK ON ST. PAUL'S.

GUAJEDING AGAINST AIR-RAIDS. The story of the men who have Been guarding St.Paul’s Cathedral against air raids during the war forms an interesting episode. By ia stroke of good fortune the years immediately before the war saw the installation of a new and elaborate scheme of fire proven- . tion in the building, making it as safe from fire as is humanly possible. Protection against incendiary bombs was all that could be afforded, although 1 expert opinion tended to the view that the effect of explosive bombs, other than thosio of the heaviest type, might not be very serious. The Watch ■was organised in 1915, and has been kept in being during' the larger part of the war. It was in 'September, 1915. that the danger to the Catheddral first became pressing. ‘AtTa quarter to eleven on the night of September 2 a Zeppelin was seen by the Watchers on the roofs approaching rapidly from the west in the glare of the searchlights, and a great fire began at Wood Street, in the close vicinity of the Cathedral, which for two hours and a half illuminated the whole buill ing, while thousands of people hurried up Ludgate Hill “to see St. Paul’s on fire.” On two other occasions—in June and July. 1917—the Cathedral had very narrow escapes from . the bombs of Gothas flying in braod daylight. Twice it was struck, at night, by anti-aircraft shells, one of which penetrated, with great force but comparatively little damage, the roof of the south Transept. On June 13, 1917, a small part of an explosive which fell within a few yards of the north side of the building was thrown up to the Stone Gallery, where a slight dint was made in the asphalt by the impact of it. This is the only mark which Germany has left on St. Paul’s Cathedral.