The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-07-08
.LONDONERS DROP
; AIR RAIDERS
MOST DARING ATTACK ON CITY
IN YESTERDAYS ASSAULT
WHEN 81 DIE.
MAvZ'g lUELS OCCUR
One @ Jplane Patrol Squad Sent in
J 8 t Fails to Catch Raiders, But
Q and Destroys Seven Other En-
Aircraft, is Official Report.

.ondon, July THE second descent
London by squadron of aeroplanes
as made this morning between and
10 o'clock when the business section
of the metropolis was most crowded
Although the German contingent was
larger, more daring. more deliberate
and descended much lower than on the
visit of June 10, the killed and wounded
were only about onethird the previous
casual list. Property damage cannot
be estimated
The flight of the Germans over Lon
don lasted about twenty minutes Brit.
ish airmen engaged them for several
minutes and anti-aircraft guns were
firing briskly, but without. success so
far as concerned the destruction of any
of the twenty or more invading ma
chimes.
The admiralty was able to report to-
night however, that naval airmen who
\ followed them to sea brought down
three machines. A British squadron
sent up from Dunkirk. to intercept the
returning raiders did not encounter
them because they had taken more
northerly route. but the British airmen
met and destroyed seven other German
machines.
Some observers said a giant airplane
piloted the squadron. and that the bomb
carriers were In the center flanked
for scouts for fighting off the British
airmen.
Most Daring Attack.
The low altitude and slow pace at
which the Germans crossed London.
and the daredevil way they circled
over their objectives has caused great
surprise. They completed the maneuv.
er over the Thames and as the British
machines came up the raiders quickened
their pace.
fierce running fight ensued between
a strong force OF British machines and
the raiders toward the mouth of the
river. None Of the Germans had been
brought down when the combatants
disappeared from view. but the British
squadron continued the pursuit and en-.
gagged them heavily
Today's attack was plainly directed
against the civilian population and bust.
ness and financial districts The Ger.
mans plainly knew where they were.
Why more persons were not killed Is
hard to explain. Thousands were in
the streets in the area bombarded, but
probably a much larger proportion took
shelter in solid buildings as taught by
the lesson OF June 10.
40 t.la
Of the most extensive metropolitan hos
pitfalls on which the Red Cross flag was
flying conspicuously, and the location
OF which must have been known. Early
rumors were abroad that the hospital
had been badly damaged, but investiga.
tion showed 1t had escaped entirely
The fate OF the humble dwellers in
workmen's houses was definite. They
had no chance to escape.
A thorough investigation by staff cor.
respondents OF the Associated Press
showed that no military, munitions. or
supply establishment was touched.
Five minutes after Ne explosions
ceased, the streets OF the district at.
tackled were jammed with fire engines.
ambulances, patrol wagons and motors
with nurses and doctors. Police were
everywhere. Sightseers from the west
end seemed TO come In droves.
Reprisals Are Demanded.
This part Of London. usually deserted
on Saturday night. was crowded with
tens OF thousands at late hour. In.
creased demand for reprisal on German
cities. several members OF parliament
have already announced, will be brought
up as soon as the house OF commons
meets.
Running Air Battle.
a most exciting running fight be.
tween British and German airplanes
was witnessed by people In a London
suburb. After dropping a shower OF
bombs, the Germans made off In
southerly direction. BY this time. Brit.
ish aviators had reached a height at
which they could engage the raiders.
and the chase began, machine guns com.
ing into action.
The following announcement was
made by the admiralty:
"The enemy raiding squadron was
chimes who engaged the enemy forty
chaines who engaged the enemy forty
miles out at sea off the east coast. Two
enemy machines were observed TO crash
into the sea and a third machine was
seen to fall In flames off the mouth OF
the soheldt. All our machines returned
safely"
Shocks Felt In Easement.
Even In the Easements the bombs
were felt, the ground trembling as
though an earthquake were in pro.
gress Windows were shaken from
frames, plaster from walls and SCOT
from chimneys
Evidently there was considerable
difference In the calibre OF the bombs
dropped Some OF them had but slight
effect. throwing up clouds OF shrapnel
like debris. Others evidently were filled
with n most powerful explosive.
The attack was even brlefer than the
previous London raid. the new tech.
nlque OF the Germans being TO swoop
down to low altitude. drop their car.
go Of bombs quickly and rush home
ward.