Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-09-06
Over Wide Area

Tho official announcement follows:
Enemy airplanes in considerable
numbers crossed the southeast coast
over wide area between 1880 p. m
and a. m, last night. The raiders
seemed to have travelled singly or i'll
groups from two to three machines,
for which reason it is difficult to
estimate their Plumbers with accura-
cy but it is possible that as many as
twenty machines took part in the
raid.
BY 11.2o 2. M. it became evident
that enemy airplanes were approach
ing London and at 11.45 the first
bombs were dropped in the London
district. From this time until ap
proximately 1 a. M, 40 bombs were
dropped
The casualties reported up to this
time are: Killed, IL; injured. So. The
material damage is not extensive
''One enemy machine is reported to
have beer brought down in the sea
eff Sheerness."
Crowds Visit District
Early this morning crowds Hocked
to the districts which had suffered
from the visit of the airplanes and
the police had a busy time. So sar
AS could be seen, the damage was
not very great, and certainly no plac-
cS Of military Importance were affect
Among the crowds the dominant de-
mand was for reprisals. which many
believe put an end to raids on Eng
land. Others insist that the govern
nlent take immediate steps TO obtain
supremacy of the air to a degree which
would render raids impossible.
Reports received today from south
east coast towns show that last
nights raid was carried on by a very
large number Of airplanes only a small
proportion Of which reached the Lon
don district
The sound Of the machines could
be heard as they passed overhead. The
people could see nothing of them, how
ever, but were startled out OF their
sleep by the dropping Of bombs and
the firing Of the anti aircraft guns.
As Moon Was Waning
The raid was begun just as a brill
liant moon was waning. There was
no official warning, but the flashes OF
the searchlights gave the public an
inkling that something unusual was
happening and the few persons who
were still about the street when the
first bombs were dropped shortly be-
fore midnight took to cover.
1t is believed that there were from
eight to 10 raiders in the first wave
of the raiding forces. but they were
flying so high that they were hidden
by the thin haze which overhung the
sky. Shortly after the raiders made
second attempt and this time. with
the aid of the searchlights glimpse Of
the airplanes could be obtained at
brief intervals.
The anti-aircraft guns came into
action and, according to some observ-
ers got a direct hit on one of the
Germans who was flying at a height
of 5000 feet. British airplanes also
were in action. maneuvring for a bat
tie. but the haze rendered the develop
ment of their attack invisible.
The third wave came about l o'clock
this morning. Like its predecessors. II
was accompanied by the dropping Of
bombs. Shortly before o'clock the
signal was given.
In addition to the attack on the
London district bombs were dropped
in the neighborhood of certain south
east coast towns. No report of dan
from that region.
The Exchange Telegraph Co. says
that at least one aerial torpedo was
used in last nights air raid.