INTENSE BARRAGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 September 1940, Page 6

INTENSE BARRAGE

IN THE OUTLYING SUBURBS OF LONDON QUIETER NIGHT IN CENTRAL AREA. SOME DETAILS OF DAMAGE AND CASUALTIES. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.45 a.m.) LONDON, September 26. While Central London was relatively quieter last night, outlying suburbs experienced their heaviest anti-aircraft barrage thus far. The crash of firing guns shook buildings 12 miles out. Churches were again hit by bombs. One hundred and forty people were taking refuge in the crypt of one southeast church when the walls crumbled down. The people came to the surface unhurt. Incendiary and high-explosive bombs gave one south-west district its worst night yet. A hospital and a convent were among the sufferers. The convent students had been evacuated. Two wings of the building were gutted. A direct hit tore away the seats of an underground trench shelter and an entire family of live were killed. There were • a few other casualties among the hundred other people in the shelter. DAMAGE IN BERLIN EIGHT BLOCKS OF FLATS DESTROYED. (Received This Day, 11.45 a.m.) BERLIN, September 26. Informed circles state that the R.A.F. raid last night destroyed eight blocks • of flats and killed two and wounded five civilians. The R.A.F. is reported to have raided northern and western Germany, where three persons were killed. 31 NAZI PLANES DESTROYED OVER BRITAIN YESTERDAY. AGAINST 8 BRITISH FIGHTERS WITH 3 PILOTS SAFE. (Received This Day, 1.15 p.m.) RUGBY, September 26. The Air Ministry announced tonight that at least 31 enemy planes were destroyed in raids on Britain today, including at least sixteen bombers. Eight of our fighters are missing, but the pilots of three are safe. A majority of the German machines were destroyed in half and hour of battle off the isle of Wight. Germans raids on London commenced at about the usugl hour tonight. A number of bombs were dropped, but fierce barrage prevented many machines from reaching the Central London area. It is reported that two old-establish-ed shops are among the buildings damaged. BLAZE OF BATTLE RAIDS ON NAZI-OCCUPIED CHANNEL PORTS. PARTICULAR ATTENTION GIVEN TO LONG-RANGE GUNS. (Received This Day, 1.15 p.m.) RUGBY, September 26. Dover observers report tonight that the R.A.F. is again conducting a vigorous bombardment of the German-oc-cupied Channel ports. Large fires are burning all along the French coast. Observers believe that German gun emplacements on Cape Gris Nez are receiving particular attention. These guns shelled the dover area for one hour this afternoon. Two unoccupied cottages were destroyed. Two casualties resulted from a shell burst.