TRAIL OF RUIN

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21362, 5 March 1941, Page 5

TRAIL OF RUIN

BOMBING OF CARDIFF RECKLESS DESTRUCTION BRAVERY OF NURSES (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received March 5, 11.55 a.m.) LONDON, March 4 > Cardiff last night suffered one of the greatest fire bombing raids of the war, and the ruins of churches, schools, houses and shops mark the trail of the night’s reckless destruction. Weary fire-fighters all 'night and all the morning continued to pour . water on the smouldering ruins. I The chief constableasaid: “I doubt 'if any town has had more incendiaries showered on it in a single raid. It was a real pyrotechnic display.” The streets are littered with ex- ; tinguished incendiaries and piles of | sand. ! High explosives hit a hospital that ! was busy dealing with casualties at j the peak of the raid. Doctors and ; nurses carried on as if they were doing their ordinary duties. The roar of anti-aircraft guns and ( the sound of falling bombs was acj companied by the singing of homej less children in an air raid shelter, | where a priest conducted a service ! for evacuees. ! Bombers destroyed a number of houses in a north-eastern town, j A woman aged 24 years died of |shock. 1 A soldier and his bride, on returning from their wedding celebrations, found their new home in ruins. The German Version A German communique states: Bombers, escorted by fighters, bombed aerodromes in the south of England. Bomber formations attacked Cardiff, causing violent explosions and fires. Others bombed Newcastle and attacked air-lields in i the north of London, where hangars i and fuel and munition dumps were destroyed. PLANES SHOT DOWN ITALIANS’ HEAVY LOSS SUCCESS OF BRITISH FLIERS (Omclal Wireless) (Received March 5, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, March 4 A Royal Air Force Middle East communique states: A small formation of. Royal Air Force fighters, patrolling in the vicinity of Corfu yesterday, intercepted a number of Italian bombers and shot two down into the sea. A few minutes later in the same area our fighters encountered another j formation of enemy bombers, which j was returning from a raid on Larissa. • Three of these enemy aircraft were shot down. Three members of the crews were seen to bale out and drop into the sea. Bomber aircraft of the Royal Air Force attacked motor transport concentrations in the Tepelene area. In Italian East Africa continued support has been given our advancing troops. A fort at has been heavily bombed and * enemy positions machine-gunned. The landing ground at Asmara was machine-gunned by fighter aircraft of the South African Squadron, and several enemy aircraft were damaged. On the return journey enemy motor transport near Habi Nantel was attacked and several vehicles set on fire. Bombers of the South African Air Force attacked fortified positions north of Yavello and near Cabata, on the Sudan-Abyssinian border. The pilots reported that natives at Lugh Ferrandi were walking about carrying white flags. From all these ooerations our aircraft returned safely. GERMAN OFFICIALS MAY LEAVE AMERICA 'United Press xssn.—kip<\ Tel. O.pvrltrht) 5 NEW YORK. March 3 The Daily News says the German Consular and diplomatic corps has been ordered to be ready to leave the United States at three days’ notice, according to Gustav Gauerke, commercial secretary to the consulate. Several others have indicated that they prefer to remain in the United States.

It is suggested that the purpose of the move may be political in an attempt to influence further opposition to the “ Aid-to-Britain ” Bill.