Omaha daily bee., 1917-07-09
BRITONS DEMAND
REPRISALS UPON
GERMAN TOWNS

Continued From Page One.D
when the anti-aircraft guns were
crashing sharply and the machine
guns were rafting aloft. Then came
three or four minutes when the heavy
explosion of bombs and the shattcr-
ing OF glass was the dominant sound;
then few minutes when the artillery
FIRE receded into the distance.
The Germans steered course
across London from northwest to
southeast. They dropped the last Of
their supply Of bombs on section OF
workmen's dwellings and crossed the
Thames. Some observers say that a
giant airplane piloted the squadron
and that the bomb carriers were in
the center, fanked by scouts for fight
ing off the British airmen.
The low altitude and slow pace at
which the Germans crossed London
and the dare devil way they clrcled
over their objectives, caused great sur
prise. When first seen they were
steering a steady course from the
northwest evidently in the act OF max
ing a long sweeping curve which
would ultimately bring their heads in
the direction Of home. They COM
pleted the maneuver over the Thames
and as the British machines came in
to the picture the raiders qulckened
their pace.
Fierce Running Fight.
A fierce running fight .ensued be-
tween a strong force of British ma
chimes and the raiders toward the
| mouth of the river. The machines
few fairly low and the rattle of ma
chine guns was distinctly audible from
the ground. None OF the Germans
| had been brought down when the
combatants disappeared from view, but
the British squadron continued the
pusuit and engaged them heavily.
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 no mat
ter of scattering explosives blindly
from a great height.
| Why more persons were not killed
| is hard to explain. Thousands were in
the streets in the area bombed, but
probably much larger proportion
Itook shelter in the solid buildings,
taught by the lesson of June IS.
The upper story of one building,
where several hundred men and girls
were employed, was partly destroyed.
First reports were that great loss cot
life had occurred in this building, but
| it later developed no one was even in
| iured, as all the workers had been
quietly marshalled into the basement
when the gun fire began.
| Attack On Hospital.
Among the places attacked was one
OF the most extensive metropolitan
hospitals, above which the Red Cross
flag was flying conspicuously. Early
rumors were abroad that the hospital
had been badly damaged, but investi-
| cation showed it had escaped entirely,
although several bombs fell close to
ii. 1,
| The day's experience showed that
persons in solidly constructed build
ings are comparatively safe, but the
windows OF these buildings were today
crowded with young clerks de-
termined not to miss the spectacle at
whatever cost.
The fate of the humble dwellers in
workmen's houses was different. They
| had no chance for their lives. The
| sight, now familiar to Londoners, ol
distracted, sobhing mothers rushing
about the ruins of tenements, fearing
to find, and sometimes finding the
mangled bodies of their children, was
the most moving incident OF the Ger
man victory. A thorough investiga
ton of the results of the battle by
staff correspondents OF The Associate!t
| Press, showed that no military, muni
tions, or supply establishments was
touched.
| Apparently none was sought. since
the Germans undoubtedly we'll know
their locations.
| Streets Are Crowded.
| Five minutes after the explosion:
ceased. the streets of the district at
tackled were jammed with masses o.
| humanity. Fire engines, ambulanees
patrol wagons, motors with nurses
| and doctors seemed to spring iron
the earth. Almost Immediately waves
of sightseers from the west end swep
down and seemed to come in drove'
throughout the day.
| Anger and determination seemed tt
be the dominating sentimets OF th(
populace. One certain result OF th'
| raid will be an increased demand toi
reprisal on German cities. Severa
members of parliament have already
announced their purpose to raise th'
question as soon as the house OF com
mons meets,
! The summons recently voiced mos
strongly by the archbishop of Cantcr
bury and seconded by perhaps the ma
4 iority of the substantial leaders o
public opinion, that the British shouli
not descend to the level OF the Ger
mans is not popular with the masses
and the suggestion that the slaughtei
| OF English civilians would cease /
each visitation was quickly followed
| by a similat stroke against some Ger
man city, commands strong suppor
among those who have looked on thu
U L.