The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-12-17

Countries, the ability Of German shlpI
20 navigate the North Sea
The latter the Germans have done
The speedy cruisers dropped shells IL
ne English towns, and are probabl!
now safely back In their home port.
The fact that enrages and friRhten,
staid England today is that for th'
first time since william the Conqueror
The coast has been seriously iInperiled
and that there has been heavy loss o.
life and property.
In 1877 the French landed small force
on the east coast of England. but these
invaders were quickly dispatched, anc
their visit was but an incident of war
fare. Since that date the belief thai
England was impreGnable because Of
her rapidly growing navy. the greatest
n the world. has steadily been strength
ened. The illusions of centuries were
shattered by four German cruisers yes
terday.
Everybody in England had assumed
that the coast was thoroughly pro-
tected by the mines in the North
Sea, to say nothing of the protection
afforded by the floating fortresseS-
CnEland's GreednauEhts-
Yet German cruisers, avoiding the
mines. oblivious to the presence of
English guns. bent only upon show
ing that the fleet of the Kaiser was
rot bottled up" darted across the
dangerous sea lanes. approached
within q mile or so of the enemy
coast and snelled three towns which
no more expected a rain OF German
SHELLS than they did the fall from
the heavens of the sun, moon and
stars.
And then the invading cruisers es-
caped. That is another notifying
thing from the English viewpoint.
%ot only were the mines and the pa
tPnl shins OF England useless. but
when England gave chase her prey
escaped. The admiralty says that .
mist aided the fleeing German ships,
hut. anyway. they got away.
Was Perfectly Organized.
The German raid was perfectly or
sanized. IT could not have been car
red out more successfully had the
English invited the foe to come over and
~isit the coast. The German squadron
y cruisers divided before approaching
The coast Hartlepool and Scarborough
are about forty miles apart, with
Wh,tby between the two seaports. 1t
said now that two cruisers lay on
IartlepOol. two made ready OF Whitoy,
AMI then the four descended upon Scar
pnroUgh.
- . clock i. n. The bombardment
f the three towns lasted for more
man an hour. Meanwhile frantic calls
~er. being sent 20 English ships IN
he North Sea, and the nearby yes
sells began 20 hurry toward the at
lacked coast. their commanders hardly
believing the story they had heard over
ne wireless.
That four German cruisers had
Dlowed across England's own vatery
domain was almost unbelievable.
Another remarkable thing about the
German attack is the fact that they
were evidently in possession of valuable
information how TO attack the three
towns. They had the range perfectly
and their shells fell upon particularly
urized objects. such as railway stations.
gas works. public buildings, and power
plants Accordingly, the German guns
accomplished IN unusual amount OF de-
etruct'On within q very few minutes and
tkey Drew or as Unexpectedly as they
Tho mair attack of the invading Ger
mans was against SCARBOROUGH. Thew
we're especially daring in their approach
IPon the coast line OF this famous re-
sort.
Almost Ran Aground.
The German ships approached so close
70 the Scarborough coast that they ran
the risk Of grounding them in the shall
low waters Of the beach. When the
German cruisers obtained their range,
huxever-anv this was most expedl-
riouslz- GoDe-they sent fifty shehs
screaming into the frightened resort
within an hour.
The sffrontery of the attack was al
most uneQuaied III naval maneuvertnS.
The first shell struck near the railway
station. where a number Of people were
waiting 10 take the early morning train
or Hull Immediately there was
The engineer IN charge Of the train
..'ich vas maEiEE-up for Hull was I'M
ulored to start. Great crowds came
rushing through The streets, intent only
mon leaving III. stricken city. Shells
began 10 teI IN various sect ons Of the
Town OF 1000 people. The leading
hotel took fir. roofs Of pr yate homes
we're torn v,-l. Those who could.
crowded -tr-.. rrc train and Il pulled
mt the det-raJ.pur Of bursting shells
nlirglir- --!-i. f's- Changing OF the loco
motives bell a7d the shrill blasts Of
- whistle
After an hour CT this bombardment.
which wrouslL great destruct on of
- gert-- and considerable loss OF life.
he Germans. having accomplished the
Unbelievable. began To draw off as the
British patrol sri0s swung into action
f-'-n [-Ic coast.
No Less Spectacular.
The bombardmen: OF Whitby and
F!artle pool was scarcely less spectacular.
re inhabitants, FOR a moment or two,
yclicved that some English ship was
1racticing of the coast, and had for
some reason turned loose 4 wild shot.
When the second and third shell came
70 Englisn;nen believed the dreaded in
aston Of Germany had come, and that
hey had not been merely Boosting
shea they promised 70 make visit TO
england some day.
After -he commandment of Scar
borough ceased and the German cruis-
ers put ID sea. there was a great in
FIX Of visitors from the countryside.
they went through the torn-up
lgeets. -ieWiuy the wrecked build
ngs and ErI- and there coming
cross the hudv OF some unfortunate
-ictim Of the attack.
The mayor o. Scarborough isIued q
reclamation Earning the populace
.ct 10 touch -ncyploded shells. The
~ollce. ne said. would furnish in 4,
'gTmatiou - to the location OF these I
shells. 2-itlshe-r rubbed their eyes
as rhcy read the mayors proclama- .
Ion, which brought home the fact /
Lat the English coast, unmolested |
Tor generation after generation. was
D inn enable.
NiSifod by