The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-16
GERMAN SHIPS
lombard COAST

CONTINUED from Page One.l
and the flashes of artillery fire could
be easily observed from the Redcar
promenade.
water front but they were driven back
from the promenade by tho military
authorities, to a point beyond the zone
Of danger.
tile warsfips were attacking the forts
on Tees Bay.
The cannonading was kept up for
more than half hh hour when the
booming Of guns gradually grew less.
During the height Of the lombard
ment as many as half dozen flashes
of guns were counted within the space
of two minutes.
Went Down the Line.
Whitby, York, England, Dec. 10
Two German cruisers bOmbarded this
town between and 10 o'clock this
mornin.
Driven Off.
London, Dec. 16.-The official press
bureau this Afternoon made the follow
ing announcement regarding the at
tack on the North seas coast Of Eng
land: ...s..-
1.-THE fortress commander at West
Hartlepool reports that German war
vessels engaged that fortress between
and 3 o'clock this morning. The
enemy were driven off.
"A small German war vessel also
opened fire on Scarborough and
Whitby.
Nine Persons Killed.
Hill, Dec. 16.-Nine persons are re-
ported to have been killed at Hartle-
pool, and a number injured in the
bombardment of that port by German
cruisers this morning.
The bombardment of Hartlepool
lasted for 25 minutes.
The hostile vessels, which took part
In the operation are estimated from
two to six, but never once were they
clearly visible from the shore. The
forts on the River Tees replied to the
fire of the German vessels. Pieces of
shell have been found all over Har-
tlepool.
The damage inflicted on the town
Is said to be considerable. One shell
hit a gas tank and set a fire.
Another Account.
London, Dec. fisherman cruisers,
swooping down upon the English coast
today. made the most daring raid of the
war, bOmbarding the seaport cities of
Hartlepool. Scarborough and Whitby.
The historic abbey at Whitby was
partially destroyed. Three churches in
scarborough We're struck and set on
IRE. numerous buildings were damaged,
two railroad station platforms de-
otroyed and the population thrown into
= panic. which resulted in a wild rush
Tor trains from the city.
~ The British patrol fleet has engaged
the German raiders at several points,
the admiralty announced.
The first details of the bombartlment
came from Hull when refugees from
scarborough arrived there. They re-
ported that the German vessels ap-
peared off the coast soon after day
Hight. There were four of them. The
bombardment of the town began at
7:56 a. m. A statement from the war
Office experimenting an earlier an
nouncement from the admiralty this
afternoon says:
1.-The fortress commander at West
Hortlepool reports that German war
ships engaged the fortress between
eight and nine o'clock this morning
They were driven on. -
"A small German vessel i also
| opened : ON Scarborough and sNhit-
The report from .le war. office. does
not aeree with stories told. by the
fefug from scarborough They de-
clare four German cruisers participant
"a in the bombardment Of the town
Prom Whitby 1t Is also stated two
cruisers were engaged instead of one
Opened without Warming.
Between forty and nifty shells fel
n Scarborough, the refugees said
The enemy's warships opened fire
Without warning. tE
Their first shells feeling for thu
<ange. landed in the section Of ths
t0wn close to the shore. The thre<