NAZI THREATS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 September 1940, Page 2

NAZI THREATS

WEST END OF LONDON TO BE BOMBED IF RAIDS ON GERMANY CONTINUE. REPORTS ON RECENT OPERATIONS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, September 9. The German Press, threatening more intense bombing, declares that the fashionable West End of London may be attacked if the British raids continue over Germany. The “Hamburger Fremdenblatt” says: “The greater part of the English capital, particularly the homes and amusement places of those circles from whom sprang those guilty for this war, has hitherto been intentionally spared. However, after the recent R.A.F. attacks on German civilians, it is concluded that the lessons of the Luftwaffe have not been taken to heart.” The British raids are described as “another act of piracy, and a brutal act of terrorism against civilians.” A communique issued in Berlin stated: “Bomber formations, in spite of bad weather conditions, continued the reprisal raids on London. They were able to recognise their targets from a great distance by fires which were still burning. Bombs of all calibres were dropped on both sides of the Thames, on docks, harbour works, oil depots, gas and electricity works, and warehouses. Photographs from the air confirm the effectiveness of previous attacks. We attacked several aerodromes in the neighbourhood of Lincoln. The enemy lost a total of 22 planes and four of ours are missing. “Bombs damaged a .merchantman of 8000 tons in the Firth of Forth.” The German news agency claimed that bombers considerably damaged installations at Woolwich yesterday at midday, destroying a powder magazine, industrial plants, and a railway station. Authorised quarters in Berlin said that 35 of Germany’s heaviest bombers departed for London shortly before midnight, carrying bombs of very heavy calibre. It was said that the flyers reported that the smoke over London was so thick that the bombers had difficulty in seeing the targets. It is stated that the heaviest bombs, the most destructive Germany possesses, are being reserved for knockout blows against special objectives. It is claimed that they are capable of levelling anything within 500 yards of the explosion, tossing the bombers like boats in a wild sea, even when they are thousands of feet up.