Evening star., 1917-11-01
But Three Machinas Penetrate
Heart of Lonoon End
Drop Bombs.
EIGHT PERSONS killed,
TWENTY-0NE INJURED
Many Raiders Steering for British
Metropolis Turned Back-Clouds
Interfere With Defense.
By the Associated Press.

| By the Associated Press
| LONDON, November About thirty
alrplanes, in seven groups, took part in
last nights air raid on England. Three
of them penetrated to the heart Of Lon
don, says an official report today. Eight
persons were killed and twenty-one 9TH
ers were injured in the raid last night,
| according to an official statement.
Official Report on Raid.
The official announcement follows:
Determined and repeated attacks
were made upon London last night by
groups Of hostile aircraft. The first
group of raiders crossed the Kentish
coast al about 1910 pm. and proceeded
toward London over Kent. They did
| not penetrate far inland, however. but
| turned in an easter1y direction and
dropped bombs at various places in and
near the coast.
Meanwhile two more groups Of raid
ers were steering toward London along
the south bank of the Thames. The
sky was half to three-quarters covered
with thin low clouds. which rendered
extremely difficult observation of the
enemy machines. None the less their
altitude was correctly calculated and
they were broken up by barrage nre
on the southeastern outskirts OF the
! metropolitan area at about IL so PIN.
where some bombs were dropped.
Fourth Group Turned Back.
THE fourth group of machines. which
came along the Thames estuary. was
turned back about halfway to London.
Meanwhile the fifth group crossed the
Essex coast at about 1915 am. and
steered toward London by way OF the
north bank of the Thames. Some OF
these raiders were turned back by the
defenses. but one or more penetrated
into southeast London. where bombs were
dropped.
'The sixth group followed along tho
same course about q quarter or an hour
later Some of these machines pene-
trated into the southeastern outskirts
of London, where some bombs were
dropped. Meanwhile onesor more enemy
ma achines dropped bombs in the south
western outskirts of London. The sew
enth group which approached along the
south bank of the Thames was dis
persed by gunfire before reaching the
outer London defenses: In addition. in
dividual raiders attacked the Kenttsh
coast between midnight and 1:Se
o'clock.
Decisive Fight Prevented.
Reports indicate that each group
consisted Of three or four machines. the
total number of raiders engaged being
about thirty. OF this total only about
three machines succeeded in actually
penetrating irto the heart of London
The raiders were harassed by our
gunfire during the whole of their flight
and were also attacked by oAr aircraft.
The facility with which they were able
to escape observation by taking ad-
vantage Of the clouds prevented any dc.
cisive engagement"
Visit Was Expected.
The weather last night was such that
Londoners expected a visit from Ger
man aircraft. There was no wind and
the moon was full. with slight clouds
which obscured it at times. TheaterS
had emptied and majority of the night
pleasure seekers were on their way
home or at home when the warning
was given 1t was noticeable that few
er people took shelter in the tubes and
other public places than on previous
occasions. perhaps because of the late
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