Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-08
GRIM TOLL IN LIVES
REAPEDBy GERMANS
IN RAID ON LONDON
Thirty-Seven Persons Killed,
141 Injured by Bombs Drop
ped From AirpIanes.
ATTACK IS DIRECTED
AGAINST CIVILIANS
Three Sky Invaders Downed at Sea-
British Level Several Enemy
Machines on Belgian Coast.

Machines on Belgian Coast.
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, July 7.-Thirty-seven per-
sons were killed in the air raid on Lon
don today and 141 injured. it was Off
cially announced this afternoon.
An official statement issued by the
British admiralty said that three of the
German airplanes which had dropped
bombs on London had been brought
down at sea.
Another admiralty statement says
that British airmen at Dunkirk. watch
ing for the returning raiders. missed
them, but brought down seven other
enemy machines.
Report as to Casualties.
The official report in regard to cas-
ua1ties follows:
Lord French reports that the total
casualties reported by the police up to
the present follow:
KILLED: Metropolitan area-Men. 81:
women, 4; children. 3: total. "a. Isle of
Thanet-Men, l; women. 2; total. 3. To-
tai killed. 81.
injured: Metropolitan area Men.
"a; women. %; children. 36; total. 139.
Isle of Thanet-Women, 1; children, l;
total. 2. Total injured. 141.
"One enemy machine, downed by the
Royal Flying Corps, fe.1 into the sea
OF the mouth Of the Thames"
Germans Are Chased.
The following announcement was
made by the admiralty:
THE enemy raiding squadron was
chased by royal naval air service ma
forty miles out at sea, off the east
coast. Two enemy machines were
observed to crash into the sea and the
third enemy machine was seen to fall
in flames OF the mouth Of the Scheldt.
All our machines returned safely"
Achievement Near Dunkirk.
garding the achievement of the Dun
kirk aviators reads:
The. vice admiral at Dover has re-
ports from Dunkirk that information
was received that enemy aircraft were
attacking England. Five flights were
sent up to Intercept them as they re-
turned. The raiding enemy aircraft
were not seen. but three enemy sea-
planes were encountered and destroyed
and one enemy airplane driven down
into the sea. Another enemy airplane
was driven down.
The machines returned to replenish
their petrol and left again Immediately.
In the course of this patrol one enemy
airplane was brought down In flames
and another forced to land on the
beach damaged, near Ostend.
During their operations none of the
raiding enemy airplanes was en-
countered, and 1t is thought highly
probable they returned near the
Directed Against Civilians.
Today's attack was plainly directed
against the civilian population and
business and financial buildings. There
is no question that the Germans knew
where they were and it was not mat
ter of scattering explosives blindly
sons were not killed is hard to explain.
Thousands were in the streets in the
area bombed, but probably a much
larger proportion took shelter in the
solid buildings. taught by the lessons
Of June 13.
The upper story Of one building, where
several hundred men, and girls were
employed, was partly destroyed. First
reports were that great loss of life had
occurred in this building, but 1t later
all the workers had been quietly mar
shaled into the basement when the
gunflre began.
The upper part Of a solid Office build
ing was crushed. Large concrete blocks
were thrown about the street, but no
one in this building suffered injury, as
refuge was early sought in the base
ment.
Hospital Is Attacked.
A.. -,,.a, ,xx..l,od ,-.- 80.
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 investi-
cation showed 1t had escaped entirely.
although several bombs fell close to 1t.
In one building a number Of promi-
nent business men had gathered for
conference. Above their heads was only
plate glass. A bomb exploded in the
lavatory. but did not even break the
glass. Not one of the men was hurt.
Windows Are Shattered.
The days experience showed that per-
sons in solidly constructed buildings
are comparatively safe. but the win
dows of these buildings were today
crowded with young clerks determined
not to miss the spectacle at whatever
cost. A bomb fell In the center of one
street and the explosion
shattered windows several hundred
feet on both sides.
Fortunately a majority of the people
in the capital had just enough warning
of the raid to enable them to seek
safety in Easements.
Protected in q. s. Consulate.
MANY Londoners seeking shelter
from the raiders were given refuge in
the basement of the American consul
ate. No bombs, however. were dropped
in that section Of the city.
Nevertheless. the whole raid was OBJ
,ervable from this point. and among
those who watched its progress were
former Premier Asquith and his wife,
whose homo Is nearby, and Robert P.
skinner, the American consul general
Tho woman secretaries of the con-
,ulate, most Of whom belong to Red
Cross societies, Immediately donned
their uniforms and proceeded to re-
port themselves for duty in their sections.
Ground Made to Tremble.
Even in Easements the effect of the
,ombs was felt, the ground trembling
,s though an earthquake were in prog
-ess Windows were shaken from
frames, plaster from walls and SCOT
rom chimneys. Evidently there was a
differences in the caliber
# the bombs dropped. Some of them
clouds of shrapnel-like debris. Others
= CONTINUED. on Fifth Page.l