NEW TACTICS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21222, 19 September 1940, Page 7

NEW TACTICS

RAIDS ON BRITAIN HEAVIER CASUALTIES HOUSES DEMOLISHED (United Press Asn.— Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 18 Air atacks made by the enemy during last night were again directed mainly against London, states a communique issued by the Air Ministry and Ministry of Home Security. Attacks on a smaller scale were also made on some other areas. In the London area and surrounding districts bombs were dropped indiscriminately. Many houses were destroyed, especially in east and south-east London. It is feared that casualties may be heavier than in recent nights. Two big West End department stores were damaged, and also a subway. Several houses in a London suburb were demolished and a school was damaged. The raiders adopted new tactics over London, arriving in small groups from different directions. The raid began at 8 o’clock last night and the “All Clear” was not given until about 6 o’clock this morning. The period was actually nine hours 52 minutes—the longest so far. “Molotoff breadbaskets,” big bundles of incendiary bombs lightly held together, fell in the East End, but the flames were soon brought under control. There were no casualties. Since the all-clear at six o’clock this morning London has had five more alarms. The first four lasted from 10 to 40 minutes, and the fifth longer. Most of the raiders this morning, state agency messages, seem to be Messerschmitt 109’s, fighter aircraft carrying one bomb. Several raiders are reported to have been brought down in the south-east. Twelve enemy aircraft were shot down yesterday (Tuesday) up to midnight. Three British fighters were lost, but the pilots of two are safe. Houses and buildings were damaged in a Merseyside town last night, and there were a number of casualties, some of which were fatal. A few enemy aircraft dropped bombs in the Glasgow area, where slight damage was done to industrial premises. Reports indicate that in other parts damage as a whole has been slight. LONDON’S FOOD SUPPLY LITTLE AFFECTED BY RAIDS ONE DAY’S CONSUMPTION STOCKS TAKEN FROM PORT (Official Wireless) (Received September 19, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 18 The Minister of Food, Lord Woolton, stated today that the recent enemy air raids were directed at Britain’s food supplies, but that after visiting the East End to see the damage done to the food supplies he was able to say that the extent of the damage was at most one day’s consumption of a particular commodity. The damage to the other food commodities had not been more than could be put right if the whole population said, “ We shall put this right by going without one meal.” “ The air attacks,” said Lord Woolton, “ provided a real testing of the Ministry of Organisation, covering the whole of Greater London, and I do not think it has failed in any particular, in spite of having premises immediately next door to its offices razed to the ground.” Lord Woolton revealed that provincial stocks of food had to be brought to London on one day to replace the destroyed stocks. Not much was wanted, he said, but it was a nice piece of work. Within twelve hours the needed stocks had been removed from a port 200 miles away to the London area.