REDUCED TO DEBRIS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21246, 17 October 1940, Page 7

REDUCED TO DEBRIS

MUCH DEVASTATION IN LONDON HEAVY CASUALTIES-MANY CHILDREN KILLED SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS, SHOPS AND HOUSES DESTROYED (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received October 17, 12.15 p.m.) LONDON, October 16 London had three brief “Alert” warnings today. Heavy casualties are feared as a result of a direct hit on a large and crowded underground shelter in London this morning. A goods train and a platelayer’s gang were machinegunned in the Midlands, but no one was injured. Last night a famous London square was reduced to a heap of twisted frames and dusty debris. At least eight automobiles were shattered, one being a mere mass of twisted metal. Many people were sheltering in buildings around the square, but there were less than a dozen casualties. A famous church was severely damaged. Gaping holes were torn in the sides of tenement blocks, flats and hospitals. Some shopping business areas were cut off by the debris. The heaviest casualties of the night were sustained when a heavy calibre bomb completely destroyed a school, which many people were using for shelter. Four other schculs were damaged. Two policemen were killed while on duty in the London area. A family of five, consisting of a man and bis wife and three children, perished when an Anderson shelter was directly hit. Twenty boys were trapped when a hostel was demolished. Seventeen boys were subsequently rescued, but the hostel chaplain superintendent, with his wife and two children, it is feared are dead. Raiders, guided by a large fire in a furniture repository, rained down 26 high explosives on doctors, nurses and air raid workers, of whom several were killed. The rescuers continued their work, disregarding the terrible danger.

ACCURATE GUNFIRE ATTACK BY H.M.S. AJAX COMMANDER’S FINE CAREER THE ITALIANS PUZZLED (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Oct. 16 The gunfire of the Ajax, states a correspondent of the Associated Press, ripped holes in the sides and funnels of the Italian destroyers and tw'O of them sank in a few minutes with their magazines exploding. Men of the Artigliere, which was on fire, were seen to be throwing rafts overboard while others were holding up white sheets. After the ship had been abandoned, she was hit by a torpedo from H.M.S. York. The new commander of H.M.S. Ajax, Captain E. D. B. McCarthy, has had a distinguished career in destroyers. He was deputy-Director of the Training and Staff Duties Division at the outbreak of war. The Italians must have been puzzled at the appearance of H.M.S. York, which Is among the ships that the Germans have claimed as sunk. DUNKIRK BOMBARDED SEVERAL FIRES CAUSED MUCH DAMAGE REPORTED (Omclal wireless) (Received Oct. 17, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 16 An Admiralty communique states: A naval bombardment of Dunkirk was carried out last night. Fires were seen to have been caused and it is considered that much damage resulted. 1 NATIONAL SAVINGS LOANS FREE OF INTEREST WAR BOND SUBSCRIPTIONS (OfllclaJ Wireless) (Received Oct. 17, 11.40 a.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 16 Over £15,250.000 was subscribed in the week ended yesterday for war bonds and loans free of interest. These figures were disclosed by Sir Robert Womersley, speaking in London today, when he stated that the war savings campaign was asking for £20,000,000 weekly by the end of the year. In view of the sum subscribed last week he expressed the view that this figure would be achieved. “BOOTLEG” BAKERS BATTLE WITH POLICE (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) NAPLES. Oct. 16 “Bootleg” bakers who were illicit'C*' ly producing white bread fought a revolver battle with the police. One bread runner was wounded. The police arrested 20 of the “bootleggers” in an effort to stamp out the practice.

MUCH DEVASTATION CHANNEL PORTS RAIDED MILITARY OBJECTIVES HIT ENEMY DESTROYERS BOMBED (Official Wireless) (Received Oct. 17, 1 p.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 16 Details of the Royal Air Force raids last night on Channel ports have been made available by the Air Ministry. Coastal Command Blenheims which raided Flushing and Terneuzen all reported great enemy fighter activity along the Dutch coast and well out to sea. Every effort to harass the British bombers, however, was unsuccessful, and the bombing was carried out with the utmost effect. German fighters tried to intercept the Blenheims as they made preliminary runs over the targets but every attempt failed. Lock-gates and fuel stores were among the principal targets. Immense fires were started at a large oil dump at Terneuzen. Numerous direct hits were made on the Flushing docks and targets in the landward waterways. While one Blenheim was approaching Ostend the pilot observed enemy aircraft circling ahead and also the flarepath of the aerodrome being lit. Before it could be extinguished the flare path had been - used as an aiming mark and the landing ground was straddled with a full load of high explosives and incendiaries. Two power stations at the naval base at Lorient were the main points of attack by other formations of Blenheims. Pilots and observers found railways, bridges and waterways clearly distinguishable in the moonlight and were able to fix their target areas exactly. Chain of Fires Started Fleet Air Arm aircraft, operating with the Coastal Command, dropped large calibre bombs on harbour works and shipping at Brest. A chain of fires was started in the vicinity of a power station and on railway sidings. Hudsons of the Coastal Command were active on the Dutch coast. One pilot made an effective dive-bombing attack on the inner harbour at Willemsoord. Another Hudson glided 7000 feet to bomb enemy destroyers off Texel. A Heinkel float plane was met head-on in the English Channel by a Coastal Command Blenheim fighter. The Heinkel spun into the sea and sank after two bursts of machine-gun fire. IN INDO=CHINA DEMANDS BY THAILAND ORDERS FROM FRANCE United rre*s A*sn.—Elec. Te*. Copyright) (Received Oct. 17. 11.15 a.m.) HANOI. Oct. 16 The Vichy Government has ordered Indo-China to resist any attempt by Thailand to violate the Cambodia and Laos boundaries. The French defences have been tightened, with attention again centring in Thailand's demands. * Admiral Dc Coux’s forthcoming visit to the Cambodian King. Sisowath Monivonc. is interpreted as an assurance that the French will support the Cambodians against Thailand.