WAR MACHINERY

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21223, 20 September 1940, Page 6

WAR MACHINERY

UNIMPAIRED BY RAIDS NAZI FURY UNLEASHED LONDON “CARRIES ON” (omclal Wireless) (Received Sept. 20, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 19 Now that the German air fury has been unleashed upon the greatest city in the world, whose streets, buildings and monuments enjoy the sentimental regard of millions of people scattered through five continents, the damage inflicted by bombs has news value far in excess of its intrinsic importance. The result might well be to give those abroad a distorted picture of the actual injury inflicted by these wanton attacks. But the reports of foreign newspaper correspondents, to judge by extracts from their newspapers telegraphed back to London, have, in fact, succeeded in keeping the tale of destruction in its proper proportion. The New York Times reminds its readers that out of millions of buildings only 2000 have been destroyed and 3000 seriously damaged, while the toll of life, terrible as it is considering that 95 per cent of the victims are helpless civilians, is even less damaging. An American agency message, surveying ten days of constant raids on London, says they have demonstrated how difficult it is to paralyse London’s life. The traffic at many points is dislocated, but in no sense is it halted. No public utility in the London area l has been put out of commission for any considerable length of time in any large district. In the same sense the HeraldTribune’s correspondent bears witness that most of the rail services in and out of London continue to operate a full schedule. Plentiful Food Supplies The fact is also noted by the Chicago Tribune’s correspondent, who adds that this means that food supplies are assured. The plentiful food supplies have also impressed a Fnnish correspondent, who says no difference whatever is visible in restaurants. Mr Wallace Carroll, United Press correspondent in London, who was given an opportunity of consulting confidential reports of the Ministry of Home Security, telegraphed that these reports had convinced him that the furious German air bombardment - through ten days and nights had inflicted severe damage and suffering on London but had left Britain’s war machinery, as a whole, unimpaired. “Only a Fleabite” “Not one aerodrome has been put out of action, the reports stated, and the aircraft industry has hardly been scratched. Oil stores were said to be only a fleabite in Britain’s reserves. No power station has been put out of action, but one gasworks has been disabled. “Most of London’s railroad stations are operating normally, but some services on others have been suspended. “Ships continued to move in and out of the Port of London. These and others assertions contained in reports correspond to my own inspection of aerodromes, factories and other military objectives.” Naturally reports are flashed from London when it is known that great departmental stores, such as John Lewis and Peter Robinson-s, have been hit or that bombs have fallen with the possibility of serious damage to cultural treasures in such places as the courtyard of the Wallace Collection, the Inner Temple, the library at the Public Record office, and the courtyard of the British Museum, but foreign observers’ reports show that to them the real news story lies in the spirit of Londoners under the nightly bombardment. From two widely separated parts of the world come comment on the large part which is played by oral or visual proof of the effectiveness of the defence measures in creating confidence.

An American correspondent tells the readers of his newspaper in the Middle West: “The English are finding the constant sight of wrecked German warbirds throughout the city the best possible medicine for their morale. With the charred remains of. Junkers on every hand they do not need the propaganda department to tell them that their defences are effective.”

The London correspondent of the Finnish newspaper Uusi Suomi tells the Finns how Londoners are lulled tc sleep by the roar of their own guns. When a Londoner hears the anti-aircraft guns roar he falls asleep peacefully and tired faces are no longer visible in the morning.”

DEFENCE OF AMERICA

NEW YORK PRECAUTIONS TO MEET ANY MENACE (United Press Asn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 20, 3.15 p.m.) NEW YORK, Sept. 19 Mr L. La Guardia, Mayor of New York, announced that the New York city authorities have surveyed build • ings with a view to possible aerial bombardment, and now know in which places it is vulnerable and where to send inhabitants for safety. The authorities have also devised a means of transporting troops through New York to New England, which region is most likely to be used by an invader. WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 Mr H. Stimson announced that the Army has ordered 9174 of the 18.641 planes authorised by Congress this session.