Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-12-16
Number of Lives Lost and
Property Damage is Be-
IieVed Great.
ATTACKS DURING A FOG
First Overt Act of the War
Against British Territory
Battle May Be On.

London. Dec. 16.-The German feet
ssshed into the North sea today.
saslled Scarborough and HartlepooI.
E-glish coast towns. and engaged Ger
uin units Of the British feet Four
German cruisers appeared before
scarborough at an early hour and
nd no difficulty dropping shells in the
civ. Panic seized the people and
nzny fed their homes. Residents of
Hzrtlepool aroused from their sleep by
heavy firing. hocked TO the streets. In
few moments shells began dropping
L the city. People fed inland
News OF the naval raid announced by
the British admiralty at 1880 this
noruing threw London into the great
sst excitement since the outbreak OF
TIE war In the preliminary announce
nent OF the admiralty there was no
mention OF the damage TO Scarbor-
Oagh. a fashionable sea resort. 200
niles from London. or to Hartlepool.
an important shipping center. 40 miles
east Of Scarborough.
Enemy is Engaged.
British iotillas have been engaged
By the enemy al several points How
ever, at noon the situation was de-
seribed BY the admiralty as develop
kg" II could not be ascertained
Ehether the attack was designed to
spread panic among the British people
o. vas 20 engage the British fleet in
general action. or to act as escort in
an attempt 10 land troops on the
British coast
Neither Scarborough or HartlepoOl
are fortified. Scarborough has a pop
ulstion Of 10000. At this time of wear
the hotels are comparatively deserted.
Hartiepool. together with West Hartle-
pool has population of 10000.
There was great excitement at
LlOyds' underwriting room when an
nouncement Of the raid was posted. In
surance rates. as far the North sea is
concerned. have been practically sus-
pended pending receipt of definite
news Of the result OF the engagement.
Bombsrdment Of the two cities is
The first overt act Of war against Brit
isn territory. The British naval
strength in the North sea is an un-
Known quantity There is reason to
believe, however. it is formidable.
The Newcastle Chronicle places the
1umber CT Germah cruisers lombard
mg HsrtlepOOl az three. II says they
we're attacked almost Immediately by
ioer British destroyers. Several en-
ufe rows OF houses in Hartlepool we're
destroyed and the gas works serious
y damaged. the paper says. II is he
Aefeo several were killed and wound
ed
Twelve killed and 100 injured at
scarborough by the Ombardment. ac-
eording 10 a dispatch TO the Evening
Standard.
nan cruisers have been sunk in the
North sea.
Woman is Victim.
London, Dec. 1G.-OficiaI announce |
Rent; German movements of some /
Importance are taking place this I
serning in the North sea. Scarbor- /
oegn and HartlepooI have been she'll /
z and our fiotillas ar various points /
az'e been engaged. The situation Is 4
eeFeloping
se@rboroug-. England, Dec. 16.-
ieuT German cruisers bOmbarded
sesrborcugh this morning When
s,eils began falling on Scarborough
Iertiy before s o'clock. people rush
= out Of their homes in greatest ex-
ulemsnt- Crowds ran 70 the station.
al who could boarded a train
s-'t leaving for Hull. Several build
-e IN Scarborough were damaged.
he castle - Scarborough. crown
e prom1n-Ory and commanding