MOSCOW RAID

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 July 1941, Page 6

MOSCOW RAID

CLASSED AS “MEDIUM BLITZ” PLANES MEET TREMENDOUS FIRE COMPARATIVELY LITTLE DAMAGE DONE. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) ’ (Received This Day, 11.15 a.m.) LONDON, July 22. . While the Berlin news agency claimed that the raid on Moscow last night equalled the heaviest against Britain, correspondents who have experienced bombings in London described it as “a medium blitz.” Fires faintly lit up the sky, but the spectacular red glow of London’s worst fire raids was lacking. If the Russian figure of 200 raiders is correct, the attack was, indeed, only one-third of the strength of those London experienced on at least two nights. Apparently the Germans are attempting to carry out from the air what the Panzer forces failed to achieve—a break through to Moscow. One correspondent suggests that the Germans under-rated Moscow’s defences, especially as the first raider was over Moscow while it was still light. The anti-aircraft defences put up a tremendous fire of flaming onions and tracers. Shell bursts, searchlights and German flares added to the garishness. The rat-a-tat boom of guns was continuous throughout the raid, with an occasional swish of incendiaries and less frequently of explosives. Fighters operated most effectively. Correspondents agree that most of the raiders were turned back before they could reach the city. The raid caused comparatively small damage. An Associated Press of Great Britain correspondent says that the only sign of bombing in the centre of the city was a crater outside the American Embassy. Fire-watchers quickly dealt with most of the incendiaries. Home guards and police wardens cooperated and the public remained calm. Britons were in one building which was set on fire, but assisted the fire-watchers who quickly extinguished the flames. Most traces of damage were cleared up within three hours. Public utility services were normal in the morning. The Kremlin and other public centres were untouched.