New-York tribune., 1917-07-23
Twenty German Planes Re
pulsed After Bombing
East Coast Towns
One Of Attacking
Force Downed in Sea
Property Loss Slight; Rush
to Cover in City as New
Warning Sounds

London, July 22.-Another daylight
raid, carried out over the east coast
of England this morning, resulted in
the repulse of about twenty German
airplanes after they had dropped q
number Of bombs over Felixstowe and
Harwich, killing eleven persons and in
juring twenty-six. An alarm was
sounded in London, but before the Ger
mans could reach any point near the
city they were attacked heavily by de-
Tending squadrons of aircraft, which
speedily caused them to change their
minds and beat a hasty retreat. One
Of the enemy raiders was brought down
at sea.
The following official account of the
raid was issued:
"A squadron of enemy airplanes-
from fifteen to twenty-one-approached
Felixstowe and Harwich at 8 o'clock
this morning. Some bombs were
dropped, but the heavy fire from the
anti-aircraft defence caused the enemy's
formation to split up, part returning
overseas and part proceeding south,
down the Essex coast.
THE latter party was heavily en-
gagged by gunfre all down the Essex
coast, and finally proceeded homeward
;.h r,nra hoprhz
Pursued Out to Sea
THE raiders were pursued out to sea
and heavily engaged by our sirplanes,
but the visibility was low and the diff
culties of observation were very great.
"The casualties at Felixstowe and
Harwich so far are eleven killed and
twenty-six injured. The damage to
property was insignificant
! A later statement said:
I "A patrol of the Royal Flying Corps
! encountered some hostile machines re-
4 turning to Belgium and brought down
! one at sea near the coast"
! The morning broke bright and sunny,
| but a thick haze soon appeared. AT
about o'clock the enemy machines
were heard, and were seen flying high
and fast toward the coast. They re-
ceived a hot reception from the i'm
proved defences, in the shape of anti-
aircraft guntire, and were hardly wen
over the coast before their formation
was broken up. They dropped bombs
hastily before retreating.
Observers say that the gunfire which
followed the section which went down
the Essex coast reached pitch of un-
usual intensity. 1t was the movements
of this squad which caused the firing
for the first time of new warning sig
mails in London.
Defences Improved
British planes pursued the Germans
well out 20 sea, fighting vigorously all
the time, but handicapped by the low
visibility. Reports of heavy firing re-
ceived from various quarters indicate
that the authorities have made con-
siderable improvement In the defences
since the last raid over London.
To-days attempt lasted barely two
hours. Thousands of persons turned
out along the coast when the British
planes went up, in the hope of seeing
battles in the air, but the combatsnts
soon disappeared in the haze.
A correspondent of the Exchange
Telegraph Company telephoned from
the Isle of Thanet that warning sig
nails sounded in a number of coast
towns and that firing was heard soon
afterward. A number Of airplane,
which were already in the air pro-
ceeded in the direction of the firing,
followed by fighting planes. Soon the
signal that the raiders had been driven
off was given.
A correspondent Of THE News Of the
World" wires that seven German
/ Taubes crossed the Essex coast, flying
from the west, at S:45 o'clock this
morning. Others followed at intervals
until $3.50. In all about twenty ma
chimes passed and disappeared toward
the sea without dropping bombs.
There is little doubt an attempt was
made TO reach London. In giving no.
tice that warning signals would be fired.
the authorities announced that such
warnings would not be given until it
appeared from information received
from the military that an attack on
London was intended