Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1917-05-31

ment announced today.
A Town on the Southeast Coast Of
england, Friday Evening, May %. (via
l1onaon May 26-)-The most ambitious
airpiane raid yet undertaken by the
Germans on Great Britain occurred
mere late this afternoon, while the
Streets were crowded with shoppers.
p~roEenader and workers returning to
their homes. The raiders dropped a
iarse number of bombs. apparently in
haphazard fashion, from a mile or two
above the town, killing 76 persons,
mostly women n children. and in
lurins nearly 175 more.
Sun Hides the Leader.
Inc first raide to arrive was the
leader of a squadron of five. 1t was
Lying at such height that it could not
De seen against the brilliant sunlight,
which flooded the cloud flecked sky,
except by trained observers with good
glasses. The raider was followed by
the other four at a slightly lower ele-
vation. They sailed in a bee line
across town, dropping bombs continue
ously.
Many persons in the streets arst
learned of the air raid when they
heard explosions of bombs around
them. The zone in which the bombs
We're dropped cut a wide swath across
the city with the chief damage in the
shopping and residential districts. The
bombs. which were of large size. de-
molished completely houses and small
shops which they struck.
Raiders Come in Waves.
The first squadron of five airplanes,
WAS followed after short intervals by
q second squadron and then a third and
four1f', a of which repeated the tao
tics OF the first group.
The worst damage lone was from a
group of bombs which strttck the bust
ness thoroughfare throngtd with peo-
pie AT one spot 16 women. eight men
and nine children were killed and AZ
persons were injured.
AS soon as the raiders had dropped
their bombs they turned homewards,
probably aware they would face an at
tack from entente allied airplanes,
which would be sent against them from
the other side of the English channel.
The British and French airplanes met
the Germans ON the way and spirited
air fighting occurred with the result
that three of the raiders were shot
down.
The number OF fatalities is likely to
snow a considerable increase as man
of the injured are reported by the Of
ticials of the local hospitals to be in a
critical condition.
Spent Hours in Cellars.
Reports this evening from the sur
rounding district indicated there was
some bombing of neighboring villages
even some distance inland. These
bombs mostly We're dropped as the
German airplanes were making a wide
circle to approach his town from the
land side. The interval of mpa
live quiet after the departure of each
squadron of raiders were only broken
by the sound of distant firing of naval
guns out at sea, and were ever more
narrowing to the populace thar were
fha hriaf p narin6c = yuhnr fho I~~,A-
actually We're bursting in the town.
After each visit the people in shelters
or cellar asked each other whether
This was the last. Hours after the last
raider had gone many people kept to
their shelters in belief that more raid
erS were coming.
There was much employment for
voluntary relief workers this evening.
The hospitals were crowded not only
with injured, but with women and
children suffering from shock, while
the police and constables had their
hands full patrolling the devastated
districts and doing the gruesome work
Of rescue, Identification and hundreds
IF odds n ends which such q crisis
brings to an u~nprepared.
London. May 28.-German airships to
The number of about 16 raided south
east England on Friday evening. ac-
cording to an official statement issued
today. Seventy-six persons were
killed and 174 persons injured. Three
Of the German; airships were shot
down.
Airplanes Brought Down.
The raiding air craft which were
brought down were airplanes.
Nearly all the damage occurred In
one town where some bombs fell In
che streets, causing considerable cas-
nalties among the civilian popula-
ton.
OF the killed, 81 were women and %
were children, while 43 women and 10
children were injured.
Fly at Great Height.
Witnesses Of the German air aid