If it's Sunday, this must be the Observer. Here are all the headlines from the main news page, page 7.

• R.A.F. HAMMER NAZI INVASION SHIPS

In Friday's raids, RAF bombers 'wrecked' massed invasion barges and fired dockyards at Calais, Boulogne, Dunkirk, Ostend and Antwerp. A convoy of tankers off Zeebrugge was also bombed. This represents the 'fiercest and most prolonged bombardment yet of Germany's invasion bases'.

• NEW TRAP FOR NAZI AIRMEN

An improved balloon barrage design extending to a greater height was responsible for downing a German bomber on Friday.

• "OVER 2,000 TONS ON LONDON"

German press estimates of the amount of bombs dropped on London since the beginning of reprisal raids a week ago come to more than 2 million kilogrammes.

• "INVASION IS NOT NECESSARY"

Official sources in Berlin are now suggesting that 'Britain can be brought to her knees by the destruction of her economic life by the air attacks and blockade' instead of an invasion.

• "OIL TANKS NEAR THE PALACE"

The Petrol Department of the Ministry of Mines has officially denied the German statement 'that the bombs which dropped on Buckingham Palace were at oil storage tanks [...] There are, of course, no oil storage tanks in the heart of London'.

• MIDDAY RAID ON GERMANY

Italian radio reports that 'British planes flew over Reich territory at midday on Friday' but were driven off by anti-aircraft fire.

• BERLIN'S ADMISSION

German radio reports that London's anti-aircraft defences have strengthened over the last few nights.

• U.S. ADMIRATION GROWING

A selection of quotes from the American press, including this one by Anne O'Hare McCormick in the New York Times:

"Whitechapel, Poplar, and Putney have a very small stake in the British Empire. They are are not equipped for war. They can't manoeuvre, retreat, or bring up reinforcements.

"They can only stand where they are and take the most infernal punishment ever meted out to a civilian population. Somehow they endure, somehow they crawl out from the rubble and flames and carry on.

"Invincible fortifications built by man have crumbled -- but man himself is the line that holds."

• R.A.F. BLOWS AT GERMANY

A list of the last week's targets.

• MR. EDEN THANKS BOMB DISPOSAL UNITS

"I wish to express my warmest appreciation of the courage and devotion to duty exhibited by all ranks of the bomb disposal units. Your cheerful acceptance at all hours of hazards which might well daunt the stoutest heart is beyond praise. Your work has aroused the admiration of your fellow countrymen and is worthy of the high traditions of the Army."

• QUEEN HELEN'S RETURN

The former wife of King Carol has returned to Romania after an exile of ten years.

• TIME BOMB AT THE PALACE

One of the bombs which hit Buckingham Palace on Friday had a delayed-action fuse. It landed on the road in from of the Victoria Memorial, and exploded early yesterday 'with terrific force, blowing down one of the massive stone pillars in front of the Palace and a section of the black and gold Palace railings'. Due to sandbagging, neither the Memorial itself nor any of the Palace's windows suffered any damage.

• IN THE PALACE CHAPEL

One of the other bombs smashed up the Palace chapel pretty well, although Queen Victoria's family bible, the King's colour of the Third Battalion of the Scots Guards and a 'priceless Gobelin tapestry depicting the baptism of our Lord by St. John' came through unscathed.

• MORE RAIDS ON LONDON

London had five alerts yesterday between 9.28am and 7.50pm, though the first three were fairly quiet. A delayed-action bomb which embedded itself into St. Paul's Churchyard in a previous raid still has not exploded (as of yesterday evening) and 'still menaces Wren's masterpiece' -- hopefully it is a dud. The Law Courts have been hit hard in recent raids, shattering some of the 'valuable large stained-glass windows in the Great Hall'.

"You're a great King," shouted a man within arm's length during His Majesty's visit to the East End on Friday.

That was after the second attack on Buckingham Palace, and in a flash came the King's answer: "You are a great people."

• GERMANY'S BILL TO FRANCE

The cost of the occupation: 20 million Reichsmarks per day, backdated to 23 June.

• MR. HEARST PRAISES THE NAVY

In an article 'universally attributed to Mr. W. R. Hearst', the Royal Navy is praised for sweeping the Italian fleet from the Mediterranean, enabling a 'mighty convoy, laden with soldiers from the Dominions' to land at Egypt to defend the Suez Canal.

• CONSCRIPTION IN U.S.A.

Congress has approved the Conscription Bill, which has been sent to the White House for the President's signature. The first intake (of 75,000) is expected to be called up on 1 November.

• WAR RELIEF WORK BY U.S.A.

The British ambassador to the United States, Lord Lothian, has praised the work of American war relief societies, which have raised a million dollars (in cash and kind) to help British civilians.

• FRENCH WARSHIPS AT DAKAR

Three French cruisers with destroyer escorts have arrived at Dakar from Toulon, the first big naval movement since the armistice.

• NEW GERMAN AIR STRATEGY

According to the air correspondent, Major Oliver Stewart, this new strategy is 'clearly revealed as a preparation for invasion':

A "swinging" attack is being made in which mass formations alternate with single raiders in the attempt to maintain a continuous pressure in which there come at intervals the heavier thrusts which are intended to do most of the damage.

When it attacks in force the Luftwaffe suffers so heavily at the hands of the Royal Air Force that it must have intervals of recuperation, and during these intervals single machines or small formations, working mostly at night or in cloud, seek to preserve the continuity of the offensive.

There is of course much more war news in today's issue of the Observer. I'll just note two more items. On page 6, the editor J. L. Garvin has a pair of lengthy articles, one entitled 'The Battle of London', the other 'What of invasion? Now or never'.

And here's an advertisement from page 2 for war bonds.

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