The Detroit times., 1914-12-16
BATTLE RACES
IN NORTH SEA
ocsn,,nued from rage oaeJ

and Hartlepool two cruisers
were reported.
The bombardment at each of
the towns lasted about a half
hour.
In all, IL persons are reported
to have been killed. Many more
were injured by the bursting
German shells, A refugee from
Scarborough, arriving ut Hull.
declared he saw three persons
killed at Scarborough, Nine are
reported TO have been killed at
Hartlepool. One fatality is re-
ported from Whitby SO far,
At both Scarborough and
Hartlepool the gas works were
set on fire. AT Whitby. the his
toric abbey was partially de-
] stroyed. Three churches in
4 Scarborough were struck by
| shells and took fire. In all of
the towns, houses were demol-
Iished and the inhabitants
| thrown into panic.
There was a general exodus
from the towns during the bonn
bardments, but with the ceSsa-
ton of firing the people hurried
to the water front hoping to get
glimpse of the engagement be-
tween the German and British
vessels.
\ At Hartlepool a shell crashed
Ithrough a window of lloyd's
bank. 1t exploded. wrecking the
interior, and causing great dam
age.
The authorities at West Har-
tlepool had been warned that an
attack might he made along the
coast at sometime and the coast
defenses and fortress there were
prepared. The commandment OF
the fortress reported to the war
office that his guns had been en-
gagged with the Germans be-
tween eight and nine o'clock.
Seaton Carew. two miles and hait
southwest OF Scarborough. was Also
damaged by the bombardment by the
German cruisers. The main attack,
however. was directed upon Scarbor-
ough.
In the engagement between the
fortress at West Hartlepool and the
German cruisers. great damage was
done 10 the town. A report from West
Hartlepool declares that bursting
shells blew great craters In the
streets.
The German raid is believed to have
been started from 6uShaven or VII
helnshaven, the German naval bases,
south OF the Kiei canal, and about $40
miles from the British coast.
The British patrol fiotilla has en-
gagged the German raiders at several
points, the admiralty has announced.
The outcome OF the engagement direct
ed against the raiders had not been
announced early this afternoon. but
II was believed the feet commanders
were about 70 round up the enemy.
The first details OF the lombard
ment came from Hull when refugees
from SCARBOROUGH arrived there. They
reported that the German vessels ap-
peered off the coast soon after day
light. There were four Of them. The
BON bardment OF the town began al
1856 a. IN.
After stating that the British fotil-
las had been engaged at various
points. the announcement declared the
"sjtuation was developing"
The German plans for the invasion
OF England have long been reported
to include a dash across the North
Sea by the feet escorting transports.
While the feet was engaged with the
British. the plan of the Germans, pro-
yided for dash toward the British
coast by the transports which would
he beached and men, guns and horses
tumbled into the sea and scramble
ashore.
A statement from the war office.
experimenting an earlier announce
ment from the admiralty. this after
noon, says:
THE fortress commander at West
Hartlepool reports that German war
vessels engaged the fortress between
S and o'clock this morning. They
were driven of.
"A small German vessef also opened
fire upon Scarborough and Whitby."
The report from the war office does
not agree with, stories told by the
refugees from Scarborough. They
declare four German cruisers partici-
pated in the bombardment OF the
town. From Whitby 1t is also stated
two cruisers we're engaged, instead
of one.
Between 40 and so shells fell In
Scarborough, the refugees said. The
enemy's warships opened fire with
out warning.
Their first shells, feeling for the
range, landed in the section Of the
town close TO the shore. The three
churches which were struck. stood out
as targets~by which the German gun.
ners evidently directed their fire, and
all were struck early in the lombard.
ment
whitby Is midway between Hartle
pool and Scarborough.
This section OF the British coast is
directly across the North sea from
KieI the famous German naval base