The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-09-18
British Fighters Are
 Hurling Nazis Back
Continued from Page l)

1 down on areas in central London and on many parts of the outskirts.
 Casualty reports began coming in from various districts and numerous small fires were reported.
 Then crash after crash shook London as relays of planes, flying at racing speed through Q schattering barrage, began dropping whistling and high explosive bombs as if at random.
 Despite the fury of the gun fire, the bombs came down faster and faster.
 Two great West End department stores were struck. Two big high explosive bombs went through one of them from the roof to the first floor. Oil-container bombs followed. The building burst into flames. Bil- lowing smoke and sparks spread over the West End, in the center of the busiest shopping district.
 Damage to the store, it seemed certain, would run into the millions of dollars.
 Streets in the neighborhood were strewn with glass and they ran with the water from scores of fire hoses which were being played on the building.
 Windows of smart shops along ad- jacent streets were knocked out by the force of the bomb explosions. Millinery, expensive frocks, per- fumes thrown into the street.
 Approximately 300 German raid- CTS crossed the southeast coast early this afternoon, with at least eight fighting planes protecting each bombing plane.
 Confidential Reports
 Confidential reports of the min- istry of home security showed today that 10 days and nights of furious air bombardment had inflicted severe damage and suffering on London but had left Britain's war machinery as whole almost unim- paired.
 A United Press correspondent was allowed to examine these confiden- tial reports and write freely about them on the sole condition that no details helpful to the German air force would be given.
 This was probably the first time since the heavy bombing of London began on Sept. ' that any outsider has been given a panoramic view of damage to airdromes, aircraft fac tories, docks, railways, roads, power stations and oil installations.
 Not one airdrome has been put out of action, the reports stated.
 The aircraft industry has "hardly been scratched" it was reported, while the oil stores that have been destroyed amount to only a flea bite" of Britain's total reserves.
 No power station has been put out of action, although one gas works has been disabled.
 Most London railway stations are operating normally. Some services from other stations have been Sus- pended.
 Ships continue to move in and out of the port of London.
 These and other assertions con- tained in the reports correspond to observations made by United Press correspondents who have been given exceptional opportunities to inspect airdromes, factories and other mili- tary objectiYeS after raids. 1767 Nazi, 621 British.
 Germany has lost 1867 airplanes against 621 lost by the British since the German aerial blitzkrieg began bald Sinclair said today.
 "The German loss of air crews has been nearly 4.000 while ours are less than 6O0," Sinclair said. Dur ing air fighting in the middle east during the same period the Royal Air Force lost IS aircraft and de- Stroyed 56 Italian airplanes."