Western Kansas world., 1915-01-02
Cruisers Bombard Cities of
HartlepooIe, Scarborough
and Whitby in Yorkshire.
MORE THAN 100 WERE KILLED
Many Others, Both Civilians and Sol
diers Were Wounded-Fleet
Makes Escape During Heavy
Fog-News From Front
--latest Dispatches

London-For the first time in more
than a century, England has been
struck by a foreign foe squadron
of swift German cruisers crept
through the fog to the eastern coast
and turned their guns against the
Britons
When day broke, the raiders began
the bombardment of three important
towns-Hartlepo at the mouth OF
the Tees, Whitby, thirty-fve miles
southwark, and Scarborough, noted as
a pleasure resort, fifteen miles beyond.
HartlepooI suffered most. There
two battle cruisers and an armored
cruiser were engaged and at this place
the greatest loss of life occurred.
More Than 100 Killed.
The British war office fixes the num-
ber of dead at Hartlepool as eight sol
diers and ninety-seven civilians, and
the wounded at fourteen soldiers and
116 civilians. At Scarborough, where
a battle cruiser and an armored cruls-
er shelled the town. thirteen casual
ties are reported, while at Whitby two
were killed and two wounded.
Men. women and children of the
civilian population were left dead or
wounded-struck without warning
while at breakfast or at work. In all,
according to official estimates, the
casualty list totals 264, of whom 134
are known to be dead.
Three churches were damaged; the
gas works and lumber yards at Hartle-
pool were set afire, and the Abbey of
Whitby was struck. The Balmora1
hotel at Scarborough received the full
effects of a shell. A number of houses
and shops were shattered and partly
burned in each of the towns.
Fog Aids Attacking Fleet.
The hostile squadron escaped in the
mist after an encounter with coast
guard vessels patro1ling the neighbor-
hood, which were reinforced as soon
as the presence of the Germans was
signaled.
Allies Ready to Strike.
The great armies of France, Eng
land and Belgium are poised and ready
to strike the blow which is expected
to send the forces of Kaiser Wilhelm
staggering backward in Belgium.
The offensive movement extending
from the Belgian coast across France
into Alsace is now under way The as
saults against the German line have
been extremely vigorous. The gen.
eral attack which is to follow will be
of staggering force.
In Flanders the British and French
lines have been advanced more than
a mile at some points in the past
week. German attacks upon Ypres
hav ebeen repulsed, with casualties
to the enemy of over 10000, accord
ing to unofficial estimates
Germans Prepare Second Line.
The allied forces have started an
offensive movement south Ypres
| which has carried them along the
| main highway and railroad toward
Lille. The arrival of new artillery
for the French, the speedy recuper
alton of the Belgian and the first
French army and the efficiency of the
| British regulars and territorials is de
clared to have made possible the pres
| ent advance much sooner than expect
| ed.
Russians to Form New Line.
In Poland preparations are beint
| made for a new battle or series of bat
| ties The Russians, according to a
former member of the cabinet at Pet
| rograd, have decided, despite the dis
| appointment it must cause, to with
i draw their left wing at least, and form
1 a new line back in their own territory
| This will relieve the Austrian fortress
| of Cracow, but will compel the Austro
German forces to fight farther away
| from the strategic railways by which
| they SO quickly moved troops to de
| sired points.
This plan doubtless will affect ths
rest of the battle front also, excep
in the extreme north of Poland, where
the German column has been driver
back by superior force of Russians
Serb Blow Was Crushing
Particulars received at Rome from
Nish regarding the recent fightin
in Servia, emphasizes what is terme'
the enormous defeat inflicted by tn
Servians on the Austrian army Nor
than two entire army corps are salt
to have been lost in dead, wounde'
and prisoners