Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-02-21
German Aeroplanes Circle
Over the British Coast
Dropping Bombs.
BIG MATERIAL DAMAGE
Much Property Wrecked by
Raiders -Deaths Are
Placed at Three.

Berlin, Feb. 21.-An official state
ment issued here today says that Ger
man naval aeroplanes on Sunday drop
ped large number of bombs on the
aerodrome and camp at Furnes, in
west Flanders, near the North sea, and
returned safely.
The official German account of the
raid by German naval aircraft on the
British coast yesterday, issued today
by the admiralty, follows:
German naval aeroplanes on Feb.
20 at noon attacked the British coast
Bombs were hurled with good sue
cess on factories in the rear of the
| railroad and on the docks and gaso-
meter in Lowestoft The main station
and docks in Lowestoft were hit sew
eral times. The gasometer broke down
under the effect of the bombs. In ad-
| ditiOn, two tank steamers were bomb
ed.
In spite Of the enemy's fire and
pursuit by aeroplanes all the German
machines returned safely"
England Admits Raid.
London, Feb. 21.-Four German
aeroplanes yesterday made raid over
the east and southeast coasts of Eng
land, according to an official announce
ment by the war Office. The total cas-
ualties are given as two men and one
boy killed and one marine wounded.
Considerable material damage was
done.
The official communication says:
-Four German aeroplanes made a
raid over the east and southeast coasts
at noon today.
THE first raiders, two biplanes, ap-
| peared over Lowestoft at 1856 a. m.
and circled over the south side Of the
| town for five minutes and dropped
bombs. In about five minutes they
rose to a great height and seemingly
vanished. At so a, m. two seaplanes
were again over the town and then
vanished eastward.
Drop IL Bombs.
Altogether II small high explosive
bombs were dropped. There were no
casualties. Considerable damage was
caused to the outbuildings of a res
| taurant and to two dwelling houses.
| Two naval seaplanes went up at 11:05
a. m. and pursued the raiders, but
without result
| Meanwhile, two other German sea-
planes were making for the Kentish
! coast. The first passed over the Kent
ish Knock light vessel, dropping
bombs in that vicinity at 1920 a. m.
The last raider made straight for Wal
mer Reaching that town at 11:27 a.
m, flying at less than $500 feet, 1t
! dropped six bombs and turned sharp
ly to the east
Causes Damage to Church.
1.-TWO of the bombs that fell Destroy
ed roofs and broke windows in the
neighborhood One Of them fell close
to church, blowing in the windows
as the congregation was singing TIE
| Deum.' A third bomb fell on road
way running along the beach, killing
one civilian and injuring one marine.
THE total casualties were two men
and one boy killed and one marine
wounded
Two of our aeroplanes which went
up from Dover pursued the raider,
but apparently could not overtake
him"
Lowestoft Damage Slight.
Lowestoft, Feb. 21.-The damage
done here by the air raiders was not
serious One bomb demolished the
| corrugated roof Of saw mill; another
unroofed private house; third
smashed the windows of hotel, while
fourth smashed the windows of a
church without injuring any Of the
worshipers.
Another bomb fell squarely into a
| bedroom of a workman's house, but
| injured nobody Several bombs fell
harmlessly into gardens and vacant
| lots.
InvaSf;pota Cnvso Eseanp