NIGHT RAIDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 September 1940, Page 5

NIGHT RAIDS

MORE DAMAGE DONE IN LONDON GOOD WORK BY FIRE-FIGHTERS AND A.R.P. SOME BOMBING IN OTHER PARTS OF COUNTRY. LONDON, September 26. The air offensive against Britain was continued last night and bombs were dropped in many parts of England and Wales, though once again London with its suburbs and surrounding districts bore the brunt of the attack. The Air Ministry’s morning communique states that fires were started in several parts of the London area last night, and but for the prompt action of members of the fire-fighting and other A.R.P. services the damage might have been considerable. Damage was also done by direct hits and blasts of high-explosive bombs to many buildings and other property. The number of casualties is not known. The communique adds that elsewhere in the south-east of England bombs fell in town and country areas but the casualties were not numerous and so far as is known no one was killed. Bombs were also dropped in the north-west and several fires were started, but were quickly brought under control. In other parts of the country the damage and casualties were small. UNCEASING BARRAGE SKY SPLASHED WITH METAL FOR HOURS. LONDON, September 26. London’s barrage splashed the sky with metal ceaselessly for hours while raiders were doing their utmost to reach the central area. The wisdom of millions of Londoners who have readjusted their routine to enable them to wind up their day’s doings before dark was justified when the guns blazed almost as soon as daylight left the sky. The raiders opened their attack with the usual battle with the ground defences. They first attempted to come into central London from the northwest and south. Single planes, apparently testing the guns’ vigilance, took no chance with the capital’s mammoth battery and flew higher than usual in an effort to evade the terrific response from below.

Londoners underground felt the city shaking as the guns gave a hot reception to the early scouts. Night raiders were also over Wales, the north-west and the Midlands. They dropped many bombs, particularly in a town in the north-west which experienced its 121st raid since the outbreak of the war.