FEW CASUALTIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 August 1940, Page 5

FEW CASUALTIES

BUT DAMAGE IN VARIOUS AREAS

FIRES IN LONDON QUICKLY SUPPRESSED. RAIDERS OPERATE SINGLY, (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 10.12 a.m.) RUGBY. August 25. An Air Ministry and Ministry of Home Security communique on the enemy air raids during the hours of darkness of Saturday and Sunday, states that a considerable number of aircraft were operating, for the most part singly, and dropped bombs in many districts of England, including the London area, and in South Wales. Anti-aircraft defences were in action at many points and fighter aircraft went up. It is known that one enemy bomber was shot down. In. one part of London bombs caused fires, which damaged some commercial property. The fire brigades, assisted by auxiliary fire service units, quickly brought the fires under control. In other districts damage was done to dwellings. According to reports so far received from London, and other parts of the country the number of casualties was small.

Unconfirmed agency reports describe attacks in various parts of the country. One Midland town had its longest air raid of the war during the night. There, as elsewhere, the reports stress the intensity of anti-aircraft fife. Bombs, including some of the screaming type, were dropped and some property was damaged. The only casualty mentioned is an elderly woman, who died from shock. In another Midland area the bombs fell mostly on open country, and the only casualties reported are two hens. WATER MAINS BROKEN. Nine small bombs are stated to have fallen on a housing estate in a northeast town. Two fell on roadways and broke water mains while others fell on adjoining fields. No damage was done to house property. In another part of the town five high explosive bombs were dropped on a large tract of vacant land, separating, two rows of working-closs houses. A number of windows were shattered by the blast of the bombs, but no serious damage was done.

CINEMA HIT DURING RAID ON PORTSMOUTH FATAL AND OTHER CASUALTIES (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.12 a.m.) RUGBY, August 23. A Ministry of Home Security communique, issued after 1 a.m., states: “It is now confirmed that during the raid on Portsmouth yesterday afternoon a number of casualties were caused and some persons were killed. The majority were in a cinema, which received a direct hit.

It is now known that casualties were caused in the attacks on the Mansion and another R.A.F. aerodrome on Saturday.

Reports show that in last night's raids on parts of the London area there were some casualties, but the number of killed is small. In three towns in north England and a fourth in the Midlands some damage was done, mainly to residential property, and there were some casualties, a few fatal. In other districts the damage was slight and the casualties were few. An Agency message says a number of buildings were affected when bombs were dropped early on Sunday in the London area. A fire started, but there was not a single casualty. At least six of the buildings were empty. Two cafes were involved. Fire brigades and auxiliary firemen worked with splendid efficiency. What might easily have been a serious fire was controlled in a very short time. LONDON BOMBING NO ONE EITHER KILLED OR INJURED. (Received This Day, 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, August 25. It is understood that no casualties, either killed or injured, resulted from the bombs dropped on the City of London last night. Apart from the fire already announced some damage was done to one of the city churches. The Ministry of Home Security announced that very small damage and very few casualties resulted from last night’s raid on London. It would be wrong for anybody to think the raid caused anything approaching devastation. SCREAMING BOMBS DROPPED IN LONDON AREA. PEOPLE GO ABOUT BUSINESS CALMLY. LONDON, August 25. Shortly before the third warning yesterday two sudden bursts of antiaircraft tire excited homegoing theatre crowds in the London area. Searchlights were sweeping the sky in all directions, the hum of a plane could bo heard, and then sounds of explosions. Screaming bombs dropped in the London area. A huge vivid red glow appeared in the sky a few minutes later. One bomb was heard to explode in a densely-packed area in London. Londoners continued going about their business calmly. Buses, trams and trains carried on.