PALACE GARDEN

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1940, Page 7

PALACE GARDEN

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.

GERMAN BOMB FALLS DAMAGE BY EXPLOSION KING AND QUEEN ABSENT

Rec. 5.5 p.m. London, Sept. 11. A delayed-action bomb which fell in the grounds o£ Buckingham Palace" exploded jn the early hours of yesterday. Considerable damage, including hundreds of broken windows was done to-the palace by the force of the explosion. The bomb fell in the palace gardens close to the garden entrance and the Belgian suite, occupied by King Haakon of Norway, and buried itself in the ground while last night's raid was in progress. The bomb exploded -with terrific force, wrecking steps and stone balustrades on the north side of the palace. Among hundreds of windows shattered were those of the King's and Queen's private apartments. . Huge Cratcr Made. The bomb, believed to have been a 250pounder, made a crater 10 feet deep by 20 feet wide, forcing up stone slabs on a terrace and breaking the huge columns of the swimming pool building. Masonry was sent flying into the air. Splintered glass fell over the wide green lawns and small pieces of masonry fell on the roofs. Broken glass showered the picture gallery and the Chinese room was slightly damaged. Pieces of masonry were throvvn completely over the top of the palace and fell in the inner quadrangle, while other pieces smashed the glass roof of the entrance to the grand hall. Eight stone pillars, two feet in diameter, were broken into three or four pieces and flung to one side. A flight of steps to a balcony collapsed. Not one pane of glass was left in Their Majesties' apartments. The Queen's sit-

ting-room on the first floor was damaged. Plaster was brought down and the floor was covered with glass and debris. Their Majesties' dressing room, bathrooms and working rooms were also damaged. A window in the Chinese Chippendale room was shattered and the frame torn out. The King and Queen were spending the week-end at Windsor when the bomb fell, but when the King returned to London yesterday morning he was told of the occurrence and this morning he and the Queen, with Mr. Winston Churchill, inspected the crater and the damaged part of the palace. Workmen were busy to-day clearing up the debris.