Omaha daily bee., 1914-12-17
CRAFT OF RAIDERS
DISAPPEAR AFTER
ATTACK ON ALBION
lcontlnued from 1.age onel


is not yet known, crept upon the north
ast coast OF England during the dark
ness OF a misty night when the fog
cleared between and o'clock this
morning the vessels OF this squadron
opened fire on the towns Of Scarborough.
Whitby and Hartlepool.
A distance OF about forty miles separate
the first named port from the last. This
stretch OF coast Is something like 800
miles.
British flotillas are engaging these in
vaders OF British waters and the fortress
OF West Hartiepool, off tho mouth OF the
River Tees. fired upon the enemy.
The official reports do not set forth
the number OF the attacking force. nor do
they say whether the seacoast towns
were fired upon simultaneously or one
after another The unofficial reports
reaching London by telephone were con-
fused and probably exaggerated.
Fifty shells In scarborough.
An eyewitness AZ the seaside resort OF
Scarborough estimates that fifty shells
landed in the town, enveloped Il in smoke
and DESTROYED the Baimoral hotel. a num-
ber of houses and the railroad station.
One OF the objectives of the attack was
81. Martins church, which was damaged.
A woman behind the counter OF a shop
was killed and her husband was wounded.
Messages from Hartlepool say the local
gas work and the lumber yards we're set
afire by the shells OF the German ships.
The estimate of the casualties at Hartle-
pool OF nine people killed probably Is
guess work and greatly exaggerated.
Two German warships threw thirty
shells into whitby and wrecked several
houses. according to a message from this
place, and ono civilian resident OF
Whithy died OF a wound sustained dur
ing the bombardment. The sound OF the
German guns was heard at towns as far
inland as twenty miles, according to some
reports
Roar Of Guns ROuses People.
People from Scarborough, aroused from
their sleep by the German shells, hurried
In droves 10 the railroad station and
boarded the first train for Hull. where
they circulated alarming storles as TO
what was happening on the coast
Thousands OF people witnessed the fir
ing from Redcar, across the Tees bay
from Hartlepool. according 10 a message
from that watering place. Several Ger
man ships were engaged In the operation
and the fort TO tho north OF the mouth
OF the river Toes replied to them. Red
car reports also the belief that British
ships engaged the hostile vessels.
Scarborough il wholly unfortifiei, ex-
cept for a small battery which Is popu-
lariy believed 10 be obsolete. whitby
also is unfortified. and Hartlepool has
only small fort at the mouth of tho
Tees. but 1t Is a large shipping center
and therefore tempting to an invading
fleet.
Tho ruined castle ON the cliff 800 feet
above the sea. together with the Grand
hotel and tho tower OF the municipal
amusement hall. make Scarborough an
easy target.
OLD Castle sheIled.
one report says that the old castle was
sheiled. The German vessels that con
Quoted this assault are 400 miles from,
the shelter OF Helgoiand, and the ad-
miralty report. which says that the sit
uation is developing. gives the English
people the hope that the raiders will no,
be able 10 escape.
A rumor has been In circulation thai
two OF the German cruisers were sunk,
but IL lacks confirmation.
The government took ali telephone lines
Tor official business soon after the raid
occurred, consequently from the stand,
point OF the public communication be-
tween London and the coast towns wa,
temporarily interrupted. Tha report,
concerning the number OF German ship,
engaged differ. One says that four YES.
sells shslled Scarborough. ana another
says three. while third declares tina
only one was engaged in the operation
Three ships were seen at HartIepool ant
two At whitby. according to the lates
messages.
In London the news that the civilian
inhabitants OF unfortified towns shout,
Be subjected 10 bombardment Withou
notification was received everywhere win
the greatest anger. The public, however
entirely calm and there are no sign
or excitement on the streets.
This Il the first attack on the Irnlts,
Kingdom since z small French fore,
landed IN Pembrokeshirs n i7sS and wa,
captured
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