Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-17
GERMAN WARSHIPS
OUTSPEED BRITISH

Continued from Page One
has given but vague intimhtions Of a
naval battle In the fog which shrouded
the North Sea when the attack was
made yesterday morning, II is believed
that q spirited engagement was fought.
The Daily Chronicle says that accom-
modatlons were prepared at Cromarty,
Scotland, during the night for 50 wounded
sailors.
The British Government has s5o0oO SOL
diers scattered along the eastern coast OF
England and Scotland many Of them re-
cruits In training. but all are armed and
could be used TO repel land raid. The
Admiralty Is preparing TO send num-
Der OF long range iz-inch guns to the
east coast Fresh trenches are being dug
at strategic points, forts are being
strengthened, fresh Ammunition supplies
4 are being shipped there. The North Sea
iieet will probably be strengthened at
/ once
All OF these great precautions OF tho
land and sea branches OF the British mill-
tary establishment show that England has
been aroused MS never before in CEN
turtles The war has been brought home
to Englands threshold. The fact cannot
be disguised that portions of the British
isles are In panic. The German attack
has overshadoweI even the gigantic oper-
ations on the Continent. The Immediate
effect has been strong impetus TO enlist
ments Many residents Of coast towns
are fleeing to the Interior
Aided by the fog, the seven German
cruisers which brought death. destruc-
ton and panic to the British escaped
but II had narrow escape from the Eng
ltsh fleet which went out to engage
them. The speed of the German ships
enabled them to speed to safety, but not |
before broadsides had been exchanged. |
II Is believed that the guns of the British !
ships did considerable damage 10 the |
Germans. When the German ships drew |
of they dropped mines in their wake, |
and the English had to proceed eau
tiously to avoid these.
One OF the three German ships that /
sheIled Hartlepool was battle cruiser.
Fragments OF she'll picked up there
showed that the invading man-of-war
used 1o11-inch guns against the port.
There was conference this morning
between Sir Edward Grey, the British
Foreign Minister, and Prime Minister As
quith, and afterward II was reported that
the British Government would lodge a
protest, probably with the United
States against the bombardment of un-
fortified English cities by German war
ships The fortiications at Hartlepool
and Scarborough consist OF defensive
works, which have been hastily erected
since the war broke out, There are for
tresses however Immediately south OF
Hartlepool at the mouth OF the River
Tees
Further attacks from the Germans are
expected, their object seeming to be an
attempt to prevent the English from
sending further reinforcements into
France and Belgium.
Colonel Repngton, military expert of
the London Times In writing today Of
the raid, said:
while the probable explanation OF the
attack is pure lll-temper and spirit OF
destructiveness, other ex-
N ha |
irst is that the attack was a feint. and
s destined to be followed by more seri-
'us measures against the British Isles or.
'erhaps, was designed to cover the de-
,arture of n few German warships from
he North Sea to take the place OF the
lmden and other German ships which
we're raiding English commerce until they
gere destroyed.
Some think that the attack was, in a
a reconnaissance, to be followed
y an attempted invasion. but we are sat
fled about the home defenses. We have
greatly superior and unbeaten fleet,
acked up by 100000 men in the British
lles, None OF these puertle operations
the Germans will cause US to alter our
hairs breadth,
THE best answer OF England to this
ct of ordinary savagery is the dispatch
fresh divisions to France and the en-
stment OF another 100000 men"
The statement concerning the raid, Is
led by the Admiralty last night was!
This morning a German cruiser force
made demonstration upon the York.
shire coast, In the course of which
they Ohelled HartlepoOl, whitby and
A number of their fastest ships were
employed for this purpose. and they
about an hour on the coast.
They were engaged by patrol vessels
on the spot. AS soon as the presence
OF the enemy was reported British
patrolllng squadron endeavored to cut
them off. On being sighted by the
British vessels the Germans retired at
full speed, and. favored by the mist
succeeded in making good their es-
cape.
The Admiralty takes the opportunity
Of pointing out that demonstrations
Of this character against unfortIfed
towns or commercial ports, though not
ilhicult to accomplish provided that a
certain amount Of risk Is accepted, are
ievOid OF military signincance.
They may cause some loss OF life
among the civil population and some
damage 10 private property, which Is
much to be regretted. but they must
lot In any circumstances be allowed
o modify the general naval policy
which Is being pursued.
Churchill. First Lord OF tho
is expected to confer during
. day with Sir John Jellicoe, COM
inder OF the home fleet, on matters per-
ming to stronger defenseB, but the i'm
view may be forerunner OF reprisals