Omaha daily bee., 1914-12-17
FIRST ATTACK ON BRITISH LAND
Breaking Through Naval Gordon
Causes Alarm I'm London.

Breaking Through Naval Gordon
Causes Alarm I'm London.
The bombardment Of cities on the eNeast
coast of England by German cruisers in
the first overt act OF the war against
British territory The British people
have felt that their fleet In the North
sea was sufficient TO render this possl-
billty very remote,
The official announcement given out I'm
London that the British flotilla have been
engaged with the enemy is evidence that
there has been naval fight in the North
sea. No knowledge as to the outcome Is
at hand. The bombardment of Hartlepool
and Scarborough would indicate that the
Germans have considerable liberty of
action. Their dominance has been more
than one naval encounter in the North
sea. for the British statement refers to
| engagements at various points.
| Immediately on the outbreak Of hos
Utilities the British fleet or at least a
considerable portion OF 1t. supposedly
took up positions on the eastern side of
the North sea, by which the German
warships were held in check in or close
to their naval base at Wilhelmshafen,
the mouth OF the Elbe and elsewhere on
the western coast Of Germany.
First Real Break I'm Patrol.
This patrol has been maintained since
early in August. II has from time to time
been penetrated by German submarines
but so far as Is known the instances
when German cruisers or bsttleships
have broken the British line and emerged
into the North Sea have been few and
far between.
Dispatches from Germany for as much
as month past have indicated in one
way or another that the Germans were
making preparations at their sea bases
for naval activity. Very little detail of
what was going on has come out. never
theless these messages led to the belief
that the German ships might soon at
tempt some maneuver.
The Kiel canal, running from the North
Sea TO the Baltic makes II possible for
Germany TO concentrate it's entire fleet
In either one water or the other. BY bring
ing through the canal such vessels as IL
may have used in the Baltic since the be-
ginning OF the war. Germany could con-
eentrate I'm the North Sea virtually its
entire naval strength. exception being
made, OF course, OF its fast cruisers. which
since the opening Of hostilities. have
southern Atlantic. These vessels. all told
do not exceed nine or ten and number
OF them already have suoeumbed TO the
vigilance OF Germany's enemies. The Brit
sh naval strength in the North Sea Is, and
has been an unknown qusntity. Their Is
reason to believe, however. that It Is
formidable. Great Britain has some war
ships in the Mediterranean and during
Al ks - fl,.k IL
detached some of its ships for service in
the south Atlantic to pursue German
Ioruisers which have been raiding COM
merce. Just how many vessels were as
signed to this latter duty is not definitely
known. Whatever the disposition of
British ships OF war outside OF British
waters may be today. there has been from
the beginning reliable evidences that IL
has concentrated In tho North Sea a
very large proportion OF Its naval strength.
Scarborough Famous Resort.
Scarborough. which IL Is announced is
being shelled by the Germans today, is a
seaport and fashionable resort OF England
in the northern part OF Yorkshire. on a
headland extending into the North sea. II
is thirty-seven miles northeast OF the Inn
portant English city OF York II is a
little over 800 miles from London.
Scarborough has been popularity styled
the queen OF watering places" The
town has q large spa. an interesting
aquarium. a museum and fine drive and
promenade pier. The permanent popuia.
ton OF the place is more than 5000 per
sons.
Hartlepool is a seaport and municipal
borough OF England. in the southeast por-
ton OF the county Of Durham. II is about
forty miles northwest of Scarborough. on
a promotory that extends into the North
sea- Its population Is about 5000 Ad-
Joining Hartlepool Is West Hartlspool. a
city OF more thaa ss.oOo Inhabitants
Hartleposl Commercial Pors.
Ths haFuepoolA. watch ars 2rovidaa
VIA vast syS1sm e esoka. bsesro tha
. war had an active trade with the Baltic
ports. and with Hamburg. Antwerp and
Rotterdam The chief industries are shit
} oui'ding. iron founding and construction
oi marine engines. The two ports ara oi