SAVAGE BOMBING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 February 1941, Page 5

SAVAGE BOMBING

THIRD RAID ON SWANSEA

DAMAGE AND CASUALTIES. MAGNIFICENT WORK OF DEFENCE SERVICES. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON. February 22. For the third successive night Swansea was raided in the early part of last night, the attack lasting about three hours and a half. An official communique states tl at fires were started and damage done to houses and business property. There were a number of casualties, including some killed. There was also some activity over East Anglia for a short period during the night. A few bombs were dropped some of them in the London area. No great damage was done and casualties were few. Swansea today is stunned and srd. Much was destroyed, but much icmains. Some disorganisation was inevitable, but the main arteries of local government are functioning ns well is can be expected under "front-line conditions." "The trek of the homeless began before daybreak, but these people were not wholly concerned with their own losses, because they could not forget the magnificent work of the civil defence services under the fiery onslaught. Last night's raid was shorter than the previous two, but much more intensive. The raiders arrived shortly after dark. Flares fell in all parts of the town, but the main showers of incendiaries did not come down till the high explosives were dropped. The raiders then flew over Swansea in constant waves, dropping flares, incendiaries and high explosives simultaneously. The work of Swansea fire-fighters greatly reduced the effect of fires * caused by the incendiaries. People showed great fortitude amid the wreckage of their PATROL ACTIVITY DESTRUCTION OF ENEMY BOMBERS. ■ British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. February 22. Great patrol activity near the southeast coast is a feature of today’s air news over Britain. It is reported from the coast that in several hours of brilliant Hying weather, British machines circled high overhead on guaard against Nazi raiders. It is officially slated that it is now known that one of the German bombers which, raided the West Country last night was shot down by anti-air-craft tire. It was seen by the pilot, of a Hurricane to crash in Hames. An official communique states: 'ln addition to the enemy bomber desled in the West Country last night by anti-aircraft lire, a second enemy bomber was destroyed near Bnisal Channel early this afiernoun. Some b.g.ile; haw been dropped during the nay. mainly m East Kent, but, according to reports so far received, they caused little damage and few casualties. There has been considerable patrol aetiv.ty, both by our lighters and by the enemy, near the const during the dav. One enemy fighter has been shot iown."