Norwich bulletin., 1914-12-17

mist prevailed to reach the English coast, and must have left their base at least two hours before dark and as they started to return about o'clock, there still remained about siven hours of daylight for the pursuit, which, however, was rendered almost impos- sible by the fog.
 Mystery How Mines Were Evaded.
 How the Germans evaded all the mines and patrols remains somewhat of mystery, although experts recall that in nnanoeuvreS British ships per- formed the same feat in the compar- atively small space between England and the Seilly Islands, which. however, was not mined.
 The admiralty report announces that such demonstrations are not difficult to accomplish but the people gener- ally cherish such a great confidence in the protection of the British navy that the inhabitants of the coast towns made no serious preparations to meet a bonbardment.
 Except for the working people. the English are apt to be late riserS dur ing the short winter days.
 People Were at 5reakfast.
 The bonbardment by the German cruisers occurred between and g o'clock and many people were at breakfast; others were on their way S.
 The booming of heavy guns off the three towns drew hundreds of people to the beaches. They had no thought of a German raid, but when shells came crashing over their heads and into the quiet streets the people made man guns did rapid work, the flashes coming necessarily and the shells fnd- ing a mark among the buildings, Many of the residents took refuge in the eel lars, others rushed from their houses, among them women and children in their night clothes and not a few sought the railway stations and de- parted on the first trains out.
 cruisers Hit and Damaged.
 The guns of the land batteries at Hartlepool replied to the German fire and are reported to have hit and dam aged some of the cruisers. Several shells from the warships burst among the royal engineers, and Durham light infantry and it was among these troops that the casualties of seven killed and fourteen wounded occurred.
 The general belief fin London is that he German attack will give impetus to recruiting. as it will show the coun- try what the war means. Today was one of eager waiting after the admir- alty bulletin was issued shortly be- fore noon saying:
 Our fotillas have at various points been engaged. The situation is de- 
 Rumors of Naval Engagements.
 Rumors of various kinds were spread broadcast from mouth to mouth. The first was that two Ger man cruisers had been sunk. Many thought that the long expected general naval engagement between the British and German fleets was progressing and that the smelling of the coast towns was merely incidental to this.
 The admiralty's report issued at 9.30 o'clock tonight, giving the news. that the German ships had eluded pursuit and were returning safely to their home waters, caused keen disappoint- ment.
 Naval writers express the opinion that six or eight ships were engaged. The Germans have available for such an attack the armored cruisers Bleu- cher, Room. Prfnz Adafbert, Prinz Heinrich and Prinz Friedrich Karl and more than twenty cruisers of a small er class.
 Comments by London Times.
 The Times, discussing what it terms indiScriminate smelling of unfortified towns. refers to the statement of Count Ernst Won ReventIow, the German naval expert, that I've must see clearly
 
 must fight ruthlessly and in the proper of that word" and adds:
 The deeds wrought at Whitby and represent the proper meaning as interpreted in Germany.
 we shall not discuss the prescrip- lions of international law because the Germans jettisoned alike all principles of international law and all ethics of society. The German navy and the German nation will learn the full sig aifcanse of the Indian saying, The patience of the British is as long as -he sumner day, but their arm is as ong as the winter night
 The raid had no genuine military ,r naval significance and its objects 1 sould only be to relieve the prevalent 1 depression in Germany and create | panic in these islands. The second ob- | ect has entirely failed. The raid was l 'eceived with complete caImness. We fully expect the German ships | Q come again until they come once too l1fen'' The Times adds eAae kne msaaRaum ue