London, Apr. 17
Eight hospitals, two famous West End shops and hundreds of homes Were reported damaged in one of the heaviest raids on London last night and early thie morning by formations. of the" Nazi Luft Well-known hotels, movie-houses, theatres and blocks of flats, as well churches, were hit, It was reported that '4 number of elderly women patients were killed in one has pital. Scores of policemen and fire. men' were killed in various districts they turned out in full force to ight fires started by the incendiary bombs.
In another section of the capital, 8 number of ambulance workers were killed when a first-aid depot was struck by Nazi missiles. In the same area, a heavy bomb badly damaged the industrial premises and dwelling houses of workers where a number of people were reported. trapped.
One of the most affected districts was the West End where rescue workers were still tolling ax arnee workers began arriving—Domel, British Artillery Repulse Attacks on Tobruk London, Apr. 17.
A further enemy attack on Tobruk was repulsed by artillery fire, and the al lacking forces again suitored heavy lowes, states a War" Ofice A British patrol enecessfully penetrated the enemy position outside the Jdefences of Tobruk. capturing seven Mahan oticers and 130° other ranks, During Wednesday's operations a total lof 25 officers and 767 other ranks were captured. In addition, over 200 enemy dead were left on the Meld.
In the Sollum area, British patrols Ihave continued their vigorous activity, Hin one encounter, a considerable body lof the enemy was surprised and sustained severe casualties, In Abyssinia, further progress has been made by' British columns converging on Dessie, Prisoners of war who have relumed to "Addis Ababa now number over 5,000 Italian troops and 4,000 colonial ° troops, In the Alge area, a number of "deserters; from Italian colonial "units have voluntarily formed themselves into Irregular bands to cooperate with the British forees, Meanwhile, it is noteworthy that the German' High Command communique makes no mention of the operations in Africa, and a similar: reticence is noticed' in the Mahan communique—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.