New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-23
10 German Planes
lombard England;
3 Lost in Battle
IL Persons Killed, Hospital
Damaged, in Daylight
Raid

LONDON, Aug. 22.-Ihree or the ten
great German battleplanes of the
Gotha type which raided Dover and the
Yorkshire seaside resorts to-day were
shot down in a thrilling fight two miles
in the air The remaining seven fed
seward. One of the pursuing British
airmen reports that he must have killed
both the gunners in one of the fleeing
Gothas, because it did not return his
rife fire even at the close range of 20
yards.
To-day's raid followed one against
the Kentish coast last night, in which
no one was killed and the material
damage was slight. At Dover and
Ramsgate to-day the Boches killed II
persons and damaged an hospital. At
Margate, which also was bombed, there
were no casualties.
The pilot of one Of the raiders which
was brought down was rescued only
slightly wounded.
The seaside town Of Margate, which
has been bombarded twice by German
airplanes, is purely a residential and
pleasure resort. There are no military
establishments in Margate except hos
pitals for convalescents, and no FAC
tories, but there are many hotels and
schools.
Notwithstanding the situation Of the
town il has had thousands of visitors
this summer. Many of them went
there in the mistaken belief that the
Germans might respect a place of that
character.
Lord French's Statement
Lord French. commander in chief Of
the Home Forces, made the following
statement concerning this mornings
raid: -,
"Ten enemy airplanes approached the
Kentish coast, near Ramsgate, about
1918 a. m. Being met and heavily en-
gagged by machines OF the Royal Flying
Corps and Royal Naval Air Service and
also by gunfire from anti-aircraft guns,
the raiders were unable to penetrate
inland.
"A small party travelled west to Mar
gate but then turned homeward. The
remainder skirted the coast TO the
south as far as Dover.
"Bombs were dropped at Dover an
at Margate Casualties reported up to
the present were three persons killel
and two injured. The material damage
was slight. Two enemy machines were
brought down by antiaircraft gunhre
and by our own airplsnes'
Ten Gothas Attack
The Admiralty has issued the fol-
lowing amplifcation of Lord French's
report:
"Ten enemy airplanes Of the Gotha
type were ATTACHED by naval airplanes
in the vicinity Of Ramsgate between 10
and II "A. m. to-day. The enemy ma
chimes. which were flying at height
between 1000 and $1,000 feet, were
closely engaged, and in addition to the
two mentioned by Lord French in the
earlier communication, another was
shot down by Royal Naval air squad
ron machine close to the coast
"The remaining seven Gothas re-
turned seward, followed by numerous
naval aircraft.
"The pilot of a Royal Naval air
squadron airplane, which chased the
raiders oversee, reports that after firing
300 rounds of ammunition into one OF
the enemy machines both gunners APP
reared TO have been killed. There
was no fire in reply, even at twenty
yards distant.
"As yet no report of the action taken
by our aircraft at Dunkirk has been re-
ceived.'
More Planes Destroyed
Later the Admiralty issued this an
nouncement:
"The following report has been re-
ceived from the Vice-Admiral at Dover
relative 10 the action taken by the
Royal Navy Air Squadron at Dunkirk;
"'Severa flights of machines were
sent up TO intercept enemy aircraft re.
turning from England. One flight OF
three machines met twelve Gothas thir-
ty-five miles north of Newport and
engaged them, chasing them toward
Zeebrugge, but with no decisive result
Another of our patrols of ten ma
chimes engaged a flight of about %
enemy escorting scouts, which were OF
the coast awaiting the return Of the
enemy bombers, and in the ensuing
fight five enemy aircraft were sent
down completely out of control and
probably some more. but in the close
lighting accurate counting was impos-
sible. All Of our machines returned
safely"
Eleven Killed, Thirteen Injured
Lord French's report shows that
bombs were dropped By the raiding air
planes on Dover, Margate and RAMS
gate. There were no casualties az Mar
gate, but at Dover and Ramsgate eleven
persons were killed and thirteen in
jured A hospital and some houses
were damaged
The pilot of one Of the enemy ma
shines brought downwss rescued, hay-