The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-11-20

gets in the Midlands, often escap-
ing the strengthened night fighter
patrols in the capital sector al
though a half dozen or more Ger
man craft were shot down.
Two Midland cities were main OBJ
jectives Of the attacking air fleets
but in all about a score of towns
and villages reported bombs drop
ped Intentionally or by chance as
raiders sought to escape heavy anti
aircraft fire and defense planes.
British sources described the DAM
age as largely confined to non-mili-
tary targets.
One Plane a Minute
The tempo of bombing was COM
paratively slow in London most OF
the night, but at the most heavily
attacked points in the Midlands
German craft were roaring over at
the rate of one minute for long
periods and the force used by the
enemy was said to equal that of the
heaviest nights Of attack in Sep
tember and October.
In one west MidlAnds town, at
least 200 houses were reported de-
molished and many more damaged
Hundreds Of stores in the central
part Of the town were bombed and
debris was scattered over many
blocks. A motion picture theater
was damaged, a shopping center was
bombed and two hotels were hit,
Guests were trapped in the debris OF
one hotel.
The working class district was
hard hit, messages said.
From Dusk to Dawn
The Nidlapds attacks continued
nom DUSK 70 GAVIN. Flares, 1ncen-
diary, oil and high explosive bombs
were dumped Unfortunately. In
the city singled out for the main
attack, hospitals, hotels, stores ano
homes were destroyed. Many per-
sons were trapped under debris. The
Germans dumped their heaviest
2,200-pound bombs, as freely as they
had at Coventry.
Air raid protection workers brave6
the hail of bombs and shell frag-
ments from the anti-aircraft bar.
RACES making reseues.
At one time, four cities were un.
der the full fury Of the German as.
sault. The raiders flew much lower
than usual. A curtain Of anti-air.
craft fire followed them across thS
Midlands, breaking up many forma.
lions and forcing the raiders tt
dump their loads over hamlets anc
villages. At least is Midlands town.
were damaged in this manner.
Had Light for Attacks
The night was clear and the moor
bright for the stab at the heart o.
Britain's industrial center. Report.
indicated, however, that because Of
the fury of the defense guns, non.
military detectives had suffered the
worst blows.
One town severely attacked recent.
~, was bombed again last night
indications were that this was
Coventry, which, was on the Ger.
mans route.
1t was announced that at least five
raiders were shot down during thu
night.
Reports up to 6 a. m. Il a. m
EST show that bombs were dropped
in many parts of England including
the London area and one point II
Scotland, but the main weight of the
attacks was directed against the
midlands," a joint air ministry.
home security ministry commune
que said.
Extensive damage was done ir
several areas. A number of fires
was started, some serious, but they
are all under control now. Much
damage was done to dwellings anc
other buildings in one district but
damage was not so severe elsewhere
1t is thought that although a num-
Der of persons was killed, the num-
Der of casualties was comparatively
small, having regard to the scale OF
the attack"