500 BOMBS DROPPED

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21208, 3 September 1940, Page 5

500 BOMBS DROPPED

NAZI RAID ON RAMSGATE CALMNESS OF PEOPLE LIFE ON COMMUNAL LINES (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 2 It is estimated that the Germans dropped 500 bombs, mostly highexplosives, during the mass attack on Ramsgate, to which Mr Churchill referred. Most of the bombs fell on seaside boarding houses and workers’ homes. The casualties were only a few killed or injured, although some are still reported as missing. Some of those rendered homeless are still feeding at the communal centre. Residents of part of the south coast of England are calmly settling down to a communal existence now that they have reorganised their lives to accommodate themselves to daily raids and shellings. Many undamaged houses shelter two families, and “ what’s mine is yours ” seems to apply generally. Housewives take turns at cooking, cleaning, and shopping—shopping is generally done about dusk, when there is usually a pause between raids. Milkmen and bakers, anticipating the usual morning raids, deliver their wares in the evening. Safety Under Cliffs When night falls all descend into tunnels running into the cliffs. These are roomy, quite warm, well ventilated, and allow of babies being brought in in prams. Friends place mattresses and deck-chairs together, and deposit clothes, vacuum flasks and breakfasts, generally wrapped in brown paper. A warden who is stationed at the entrance to the tunnels awakens the men on time.

“ I get them to work every morning,” he said. “ I am very similar to the Ritz hall-porter, only my customers do not leave out their boots.”

Although this part of the coast is deservedly nicknamed “ Hell’s Corner,” very few of the residents have left their homes.

A fisherman said: “ My people sat here and awaited invasion for centuries, and never got it. Well, here I sit and here I stay.”