The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-05-12

air assaults of the entire war, and heap of charred, vet timbers and rubble ley desecrating the most venerated spot in England-a 50- foot square in the very center of Westminster Abbey, where British kings and queens for 900 years, OK. cept Edward V, have been crowned,
 New All Time High
 British night fighters, including American made Douglas DB-7s, and anti-aircraft guns had reached Q new all time high in shooting down some 10 per cent of the esti- mated 300 to 400 raiders over Brit. ain Saturday night. If such a ratio could be maintained, even on the moonlit nights, 1t was believed, the German flyers morale would soon break down.
 The Daily Heralds air commen- tator, Air Commodore P. r. N. Eel. loves, said, T think the morale of their night raiders may crack before the end of the summer, provided we have good clear nights In which to operate" Other experts said the in- creasing number of night fighters available, and the steadily improv. Ing accuracy of the pilots fire, as they gained experience, boded well for the future.
 Destruction of Relies
 The destruction of the House of Commons debating hall, including such relics as the speakers chair, dispatch boxes and statues of fa- nous statesmen; the damage to the House of Lords, vast Westminster Hall, to Big Ben, the l2 Ia ton clock whose chimes were broadcast throughout the empire, and to the other historical sites, had been ac- cepted calmly by the public.
 Sunday strollers, including girls In bright spring coats, chatted gaily as they detoured around the wreck age. Some passed with scarcely a glance at 1t. A United Press corre- spondent found the dean, Bishop Paul De Labilliere, walking serene- ly in the yard of the little cloisters section of Westminster. He carried book and wore a blue and purple cassock, Q tin hat and rubber boots
 I'm In no mood to discuss it," he said, with quiet resignation. But he pointed graciously to the damage and said that he, his wife and others were in a shelter when the incen- diary bombs started falling. T lost everything had in the deanery = this IS all I have got," he said, spreading out his hands, displaying his garb.
 The deanery had been considered one of the most beautiful buildings in Britain. It was gutted, along with two or three of the canons' houses and parts of Westminster school be- hind the abbey.
 Abbey Not Entirely Gone
 The abbey architect, A. L. N Russell, said that "the most archi- tecturally important parts of the abbey buildings have survived and the fabric is intact. The fact that the 18th Century roof has been de- stroyed is not an irreparable thing, though the abbey is open to the sky.''
 A verger stood in front of the closed doors of the abbey, reassuring anxious callers that the building was not seriously damaged. One old wom- an cried with joy on hearing this news.
 Most of the damage to the abbey was caused when the timbered roof of the lantern, a tower in the cen- ter of the building, was ignited by an incendiary bomb. It was 40 feet above the abbey floor, out of reach Of firemen's hoses, and 1t burned out and collapsed. Wreckage lay two feet deep before the altar, which was unchanged.
 Outwardly. the abbey showed lit- tie evidence Of damage, although pews and hassocks were stacked on the lawn, the air was heavy with the odor of burned wood, tapestry and chair stuffings. and muck, ashes and sandbags Uttered the scene that four years ago today witnessed the coronation of King George and Queen Elizabeth.
 Debating Hall Ruined The House of Commons debating hall was mass of rubble sur- rounded by blackened walls. Big Ben, on the Parliament building tower, still chimed the hours but the masonry above the blackenec face was damaged and the appara- laas which broadcast the chimes hy xxli@ waa uat @Sas US s0mmismzon.