LONDONERS CALM

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 October 1940, Page 5

LONDONERS CALM

AMERICAN VISITOR’S TRIBUTE SLIGHT MILITARY DAMAGE. SEEN IN EXTENDED DRIVE. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 23. Two of the strongest impressions gained by Mr Ralph Ingersoll, owner of an influential New York evening newspaper, since his arrival in England three days ago are: First, the unhurried calm of Londoners under the bombing ordeal, and secondly the slightness of the damage to military objectives—harbours, factories, airports, bridges, stations, and railway yards. Speaking of London’s calm, Mr Ingersoll said to a Press representative: “I have seen no single evidence of panic. Out of two or three hundred people to whom I talked, only two or three were even depressed. I see Londoners as a people leaning against railings and reading newspapers while waiting for buses.” His impression of lack of damage to military,, objectives Mr Ingersoll gained during a drive of more than 100 miles through England, when he saw only 15 bomb craters. Though the non-military damage he had since examined seemed a good deal greater than was thought in the United States, Mr Ingersoll found the effect of this on the public much less than he expected. It was combated by unanimity of effort and calmness. “I have nothing but admiration for London to tell America,” he said. Referring to United States public opinion about the war, Mr Ingersoll pointed out that the Germans had made a most ingenious timing by assaulting Britain while Americans were wrapped up in the coming Presidential election. United States opinion was largely sectionalised. The north-east and the big cities felt the war very keenly and identified themselves closely with Britain’s effort. The southeast was more warlike. People there liked a scrap—and against Germans. Enlistment was high there. On the west coast there had been a tendency to be disinterested and to look only west to Japan. “But there is generally more interest in the war today,” he said. Mr Ingersoll also contrasted the freedom given newspaper correspondents in England and in Germany, and told how one of his correspondents j in Germany had been shepherded back to a party with whom he was making a tour by a squad of Nazis. THEATRES POPULAR IN LONDON AND PROVINCES. PERFORMANCES DURING LUNCH HOUR. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 23. An interesting example of the manner in which people are adjusting their lives to changed conditions is afforded by the success which has attended enterprises in larger provincial cities, as in London, for providing entertainment during daylight hours and notably at the luncheon interval. Midday performances of ballet at the Arts Theatre, London, immediately demonstrated that ' they met a .strong public demand, and the lunchtime concerts at the National Gallery have been very largely attended. Shakespeare is being played at one London theatre at early matinee performances and at another a “non-stop” revue begins its course at noon and ends at dusk. Cinemas have been permitted to begin performances in the forenoons. A similar movement is in progress in the provinces, and the Birmingham Repertory Theatre opened yesterday with a brief lunch-time revue. SUDDEN LULL IN ENEMY AIR ATTACKS. (Received This Day, 9.20 a.m.) LONDON. October 24. Enquiries by Australian Associated Press throughout Britain reveal that air raid casualties have shown a sudden and substantail drop and probably were the lowest last night since the “blitzkrieg” began. High-flying raiders visited some northern centres early today, but no bombs were dropped.