DOCKS AREA

Taranaki Daily News, 10 September 1940, Page 7

DOCKS AREA

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.

SCENE OF HAVOC STREETS DESTROYED

PORT NOT IMMOBILISED

London, Sept. 8. Whole streets in. the London docks area are a scene of destruction as a result of Saturday's raids. A Port of London Authority official stated: "While the docks suffered considerable damage the port of London is not immobilised. The principal discharging and loading berths are intact. The loss of foodstuffs is not severe and the services gvill be maintained." The Transport Board announced some dislocation iri an eastern portion district railway and the East London line. Two raiders in the London area dived to about 60 feet and raked a train with machine-gun fire. The train continued its journey. There were some casualties. Work was suspended in some factories until the early hours and was resumed to-day so that output would not be diminished. Thousands Helpless. The enemy's second raid caught thou-r-nds of people helpless. Ordered from their homes when the sirens wailed again, they dropped- bundles and belongings as they rushed to shelter amid ficreamirig bombs. The shelters in one district could not cope with the rush. A reporter saw women clutching babies

hiding them with their bodies on the pavement, and hugging buildings for the slightest shelter. Familie& evacuated under the orders of the poljce were housed in schools. institutes and other public buildings. The people felt many bomb explosions, even in the deep shelters. The Mayor and Mayoress of one area were shepherding 500 people in a shelter when their own home was damaged. The Mayor called for volunteers among the able-bodied. The people who responded left the shftlter to help injured in the streets. A bdmb completely demolished a theatrc. Many women and children were killed or injured outside the theatre. A tar distillery on the north bank of the Thames was still burning fiercely this morning. The matron of a hospital in East Lon--don stated that two wards were demolished. Some deaths occurred but she could not say how many.