The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-09


 ReprisaL Says Berlin
 Berlin, December 9-(UP)-Giani blazs in London blended into ont sea of fire" the high command re- ported today, as a result of German air attack in which between 80,00( and 100000 incendiary bombs and 1,54O, 900 pounds of explosives wert showered on the British capital.
 The attack on London, according to the high command communique was in reprisal for Royal Air Force attack on western German cities.
 Single British planes bombed Dusseldorf, Munich, Gladbach anC other towns last night, the com- munique admi '-d -t said number of residences were iot afire ano nine civilians were killed. Thirty nine others were wounded, the com munique said, but no military or inn portant objectives were hit.
 Two British planes were shot down and one German plane was miss ing, the communique said.
 Entire Blocks Afire
 Nazi informants said that using new technique in the attack on London planes set fire to entire blocks of buildings which new waves of planes demolished with explosive bombs.
 The official news agency called il the hardest blow against London since Sept. g.
 Fires were so big that the German pilots could see them from thei1 bases in northern France, it was as- serted. Numerous gas tanks and oil ploded, the agency said, and oil tanks were set on fire.
 Anti-aircraft fire waned after the early hours of the attack, accord ing to the agency, due apparently to the exhaustion of munitions"
 Easing their statements on "re- ports from London by way of Stock holm," informants said the German planes attacked wave after wave and hour after hour first shower ing incendiary bcmhs and then, by the light of the resultant fires, rain- ing explosive bombs.
 New Technique.
 Hinting at the new technique, ar informant said:
 After the early hours of last evening numerous fires were ob- served lighting up the London sky but no planes were audible. Civi- Hans thought the government was faet;v,o a ,oa,,, o{r Ioeo,oco c1yeto,,,
 Shortly afterward, however, il was determined that the fires were caused by German planes which be. fore dropping flares had shut of their motors and glided over tht city.
 AS searchlights sought out tho silent gliding German planes anti. aircraft guns opened rapid fire Shortly afterward, however, swarms of German planes flew over the area some from the height of 90 feet and wiped out searchlights ane silenced anti-aircraft batteries by dropping hundreds of small high ex. plosive bombs. Other searchlight. which appeared, and other gun! which fired, were immediately at, tackled by ow flying bombers whicl drove the ground crews to thei dugouts.
 'The German planes in close for nation flew over many places After the second and third attack they were unable to observe furthe anti-aircraft gun fire"
 The German planes started ou from bases in Holland, Belgium anc France early in the evening.
 BroadcaSter Wounded
 London, Dec. 9.-(UP)-Frec Bates, of the National Broadcastine company's staff here, suffered cuts and bruises in last nights air at. tack on London, 1t was revealed to. day. Bates was taken to Middlese2 hospital but his injuries were Saic not to be serious.
 The offices of both the Nationa Broadcasting Co.,. and the Columbia Broadcasting system were damaged in last nights attack. Most of tht staff of CBS escaped possible deatf when a high explosive bomt wrecked the networks offices. I had been the custom of secretarie! and clerks to sleep in the offices but they were away last night.
 Larry Leseur, CBS correspondent had gone to the offices to write { broadcast, but the electric light had gone out and he moved to { different place. When he returned the offices were in ruins.
 John McVane, NEG correspondent advised New York headquarters tha the company's London offices wer' damaged with broken windows anc furniture and communications line disrupted.