LIKE NIGHTMARE’

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21372, 17 March 1941, Page 6

LIKE NIGHTMARE’

BOMB ON DANCE HALL MANY PEOPLE KILLEB NAZI RAIDS ON BRITAIN (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received March 17, 3.15 p.m.) LONDON, March 16 Many people were killed or injured when a bomb directly hit a dance-hall jsa the London area last night. A blast overturned a trolley-bus, which was set on fire and burnt out. A rescue worker said: “ Most of the passengers in the bus were killed. It was like a nightmare.” He added that there were between 100 and 200 dancers in the hall, mostly young regular patrons of a weekly dance. A huge gap was torn in one end of the hall, and the bodies of soldiers and girls were flung into the roadway. The rescuers worked throughout the night to extricate the victims. Several of those injured died in hospital. Another bomb wrecked a bank opposite and damaged a public-house. A number of men were sent to hospital. More Planes Destroyed A Royal Air Force Middle East communique states: It is now definitely confirmed that in the air combat on March 11 seven enemy aircraft were destroyed, instead of five as originally announced. On March 13 the total enemy aircraft lost in battle in the Kelcyra area was 15, instead of 14. The pilots of two Royal Air Force aircraft were seen escaping by parachute during a successful engagement on March 14, and reported unharmed to their units. There was considerable air activity in the Keren region of Eritrea yesterday and the previous night. Enemy troops’ gun positions were bombed and machine-gunned, while motor transport on the KerenAsmara road was so harassed by air attack that it was compelled to halt. A train with from 30 to 40 trucks was machine-gunned and set on fire. It was still burning fiercely 2£ hours afterwards, with frequent explosions. From all these operations all our planes returned safely. FOUR SHIPS SUNK TORPEDOED BY U-BOATS SURVIVORS IN CANADA (United press Assn.—Elec. Tel. ConyrlrM) OTTAWA, March 15 Two hundred survivors from the crews of sunken ships revealed on their arrival in Canada that a group of German submarines “firing torpedoes from all directions” attacked a convoy en route to Canada from England. They sank four ships. Other ships were hit but remained afloat. Members of the crews said the convoy was attacked twice within six hours several days after leaving England. A large auxiliary vessel, an oil tanker and two freighters were sunk. AIR CASUALTIES DEATH FROM ACCIDENT TWO PRISONERS OF WAR (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Monday The following air casualties are officially announced:— Pilot-Officer William Henry Hodgson, D.F.C., killed as a result of an aircraft accident. His father is Mr A. Hodgson, of Dunedin. Sergeant Avon Ernest Limbrick, R.N.Z.A.F., previously reported missing, is now reported a prisoner of war. His mother is Mrs E. A. Limbrick, of Seddon. Sergeant John Archibald McQuarrie MacMillan, R.N.Z.A.F., previously reported missing, is now reported a prisoner of war. His father is Mr J. MacMillan, of Wanganui. Sergeant William Louis Butler, R N.Z.A.F., an air gunner, was injured when an aircraft crashed whilst talcing off for an operational flight. He was admitted to hospital. His brother is Mr Butler, of Northland, Wellington.