SEVERE, NOT SERIOUS

Taranaki Daily News, 10 September 1940, Page 7

SEVERE, NOT SERIOUS

British Official Wireless.

SUMMING UP OF DAMAGE

-Rugby, Sept. 8. "Further particulars are now given of heavy attacks directed on London by the ;enemy yesterday evening and continued on a smaller scale throughout the night," stated an Air Ministry communique to-day. "The oombing was widespread and m the later part of the attack appeared to be indiscriminate. The damage was severe but judged against the background of the war is not serious. "The major weight of the enemy's offensive was concentrated on both banks of the Thames east of the City. especialiy Riverside, where three extensive fires and a number of others were caused. Much damage was done and a number of persons were rendered temporarily homeless but were suecessfully removed from the danger area and immediate steps were taken to provide them with food and shelter. "Bombs alsH 'fell wutility plant in this area and some 'services were seriously interfered with. Many bombs were dropped in the docks of the Port of London Authority. A large fire was caused in the docks south of the river. Elsewhere some warehouses were damaged and several barges were set on fire. Many Bombs Elsewhere. "Attacks on other parts of London were not comparable in magnitude but many bombs were dropped. In South London two schools were seriously damaged. A fire was caused in Central London and houses were demolished in various distrirts "Throughout all these areas the civil defence services are speedily and suecessfully dealing with the tasks imposed on them, which included the evacuation of several hundred children from the area rendered dangerous by fire, assisting to restore rail communications which suffered considerable interruption— although trunk lines were not seriously affected— and more partlcularly fire fighting. which imposed a very heavy task upon the fire services, many of , whom carried on work under .bombardment. "Outside the London area the only report of major damage comes from an oil installation on the lower Thames, where a large fire was caused. These attacks much exceeded in scale any that preceded them and heavy casualties have been incurred. As expected, there is evidence from all areas of the high courage and resolution with which the civil population accepted the challenge."