Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-12-18
GERMANS RoMsARp sRIToN
Cruisers from KieI Create Great Con-
sternation.

eternatlon.
Four fast German warships steamed
out from Kiel, last Tuesday night,
proceeded across the North Sea and
reaching the British coast at about
dawn on Wednesday morning bonn
barded the sea towns Of Hartlepool,
Scarborough and Whitby.
It was the first time for over hun
dred years that a foreign foe has land
ed hostile shot on British soil, and
the incident has produced consterna-
ton throughout the British Isles, and
more or less surprise throughout the
world.
The first the unsuspecting inhabi-
tants Of the three towns knew of their
impending danger was when without
warning, the death dealing shells from
the ships came crashing through their
buildings, scattering death and de-
struction, and creating general panic.
The three towns bombarded are on
the east coast Of England, within fifty
miles Of each other and all within less
than two hundred miles Of London.
Hartlepool Is maritime base, pro-
tected by a fort. Scarborough and
Whitby are unprotected towns, close
to the open sea, and both are to
large extent pleasure resorts; but
largely deserted by pleasure seekers
at this season.
Hartlepool suffered most, having
been attacked by two battle cruisers
and an armored cruiser. The German
ships commenced firing at a distance
Of three or four miles, and kept up the
were smashed, the gas works and
lumber yards were set on fire, and
many houses were torn down. Seven
soldiers and % civilians were killed
and IA soldiers and 80 civilians were
wounded. Thirteen casualties were
reported at Scarborough and two were
killed and two wounded at Whitby. A
famous abbey at the last named place
was demolished. In all the casualty
list was reported to be ITO. Of whom
81 were known to be dead.
The fort at Hartlepool answered
the fire Of the Germans and the de-
tenders claim that considerable dam
age was done to the enemys ships;
but the withdrawal Of the enemy was
brought about by the appearance OF
items Of the British feet. It appears
that Germans had evaded the British
patrols Of all kinds, and the British
fleet knew nothing Of the attack until
summoned by wireless. AS soon as
British ships began to appear In
force, the Germans turned about and
made for home, dropping out mines
astern as they steamed away to add
to the danger Of pursuit.
The British people had such abso-
lutte faith In their security Of attack
by sea, that they secuted the idea Of
the possibility Of the Germans ever
| being able to land a shot on their
coast. It Is not supposed that the
Germans expected to accomplish any
thing except to produce a great moral
effect in England or maybe their pur-
pose was a feint to cloak some other
naval movement, news Of which has
not yet been disclosed. The moral eff
feet has been very great. The Loyds
Insurance system that Ats in every
thing, has been shaken up tremen-
dously as the result Of this unexpected
happening, and the state Of general
uneasiness throughout the British Is
lands has been tremendously increas-
ed.
1t has not definitely developed just
how the German raid was managed;
but the supposition Is that the raiding
feet must have left Helgoland, some
thing over three hundred miles dis
tant, late Tuesday afternoon, and
steamed directly across to Its work.
Some surprise Is expressed by experts
at the ability Of the Germans to make
the long trip across without encoun-
tering some Of the mines that are sup
posed to so thickly strew the North
Sea.