The Wilmington morning star., 1940-09-08
LONDON SEVERELY
DAMAGED BY RAID
Continued From Page One)

Afterward, an occasional plan
roared over to drop bombs, an,
s%earchlights still CROPPED through tn,
morning sky.
Even after the "all clear" report,
still drifted in steadily Of additiona
dead and injured, Of demolishe,
homes and damaged air raid shell
tiers. Traffic was re.routed in {
number of localities
The longest previous alarm wa.
seven hours and 40 minutes Sept
Sc.
Just after midnight, the air min
istry - officially calling this "th'
first big Nazi air raids on London
reported that at least IS German
raiders had been shot down against
IS British fighter craft.
The Germans struck this, thu
most savage blow yet to fall ir
the battle for Britain, at 1892 p. m
9:32 p. m. EST last night after q
heavy daylight raid of hundreds oil
planes which itself broke through
the city's inner defenses.
Nearly four hours later, as mid
night passed, they were pounding
on with undiminished ferocity.
At that time-at 1914 a. M, the
doors Of the Associated Press build
ing, just two blocks from the
Thames and a mile from Charing
| Cross-shivered under the detona
ton of a bomb.
At 3 a. m. g p. m. EST Satur'
day. newspaper trucks moved of
with the usual Sunday editions while
the raid continued. Another raider
roared overhead and dropped bombs
south of the Thames, starting fires
at three points.
In Several Districts
The raiders were concentrating
not on one but several districts
Fire apparatus in many an area
was fighting separate blazes.
A bomb fell directly in front of a
crowded London bus, injuring many
passengers.
The heavy guns of inner Lon
don, as well as the aircraft bat
teries ringing the city, were in roar
ing action.
One instance Of the rapidity OF
action Of the German incendiaries
was observed by an Associated Press
staff man on the roof Of its office
Ducking his head a moment at the
scream of a downrushing bomb, he
raised it instantly to see that a
blaze had started on the opposite
bank Of the Thames.
The damage to London's indus
trial area and vital municipal serv'
ices, it was indicated, was the heavi'
est Of any so far admitted.
Despite the resistance Of British
fighters and anti-aircraft guns, &
joint air and home security minis
tries communique acknowledged
some German raiders siftet
through to the East London indus
trial area.
LAS a result Of these attacks
the communique disclosed. fire
were caused among industrial tar
gets in this area. Damage was done
to the lighting and other pubsi'
services and some dislocation o
communications was caused"
Although it gave no details, the
communicate acknowledged attacks
also on London's huge Waterfront
and admitted that fires had beer
sown at industrial plants along the
north shore of the Thames estuary,
There was no immediate estimate
Of casualties.
Today's raids, the air ministry
said, had cost the Germans q
planes-16 Of them bombers-up tc
8 p. m. e p. m. e. S. To. II
admitted five British fighters were
missing.
In tonight's second raid, flames
in one industrial target drew re
turning raiders. They dropped three
more heavy bombs that ratified Flee
street windows and deepened tn
glow in the evening sky.
Heavy Barrage
Anti-aircraft guns kept up
heavy barrage to drive the circlin,
attackers away from their targets
A vaudeville theater and a store
were hit in one London distric'
during the second raid.
AS usual, the raiders took
northerly course over the city,
their throbbing motors plainly audi
bile in the streets. AS they passed,
fires from the afternoon bombing
still ragged in the crowded east enc
and their red glows lit the sky.
London's air raid precaution,
service, modified to fight fires ane
give first aid, carried on through
the second warning.
In mi London area, hundreds
Of people, unable to use normal
routes to their homes, were caught
on the detour by the second warn
ing, taking cover again. Several
fires by that time were burning.