Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-07
Raid on Metropolis Greatest
Ever Attempted by Teutons.
Results Yet in Doubt.
RAIN OF EXPLOSIVES
LASTS QUARTER HOUR
Aerial Invaders Attacked by 'Artil-
lery and Large Number of Flying
Craft-Throngs in Streets.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
LONDON, July About
twenty enemy airplanes bonn
barded London today, according
to an official statement by the war
Office. Late this morning it was
impossible to say what loss Of life
there had been.
For about a quarter Of an hour the
raiders dropped a steady rain Of bombs.
Damage was done in the heart of Lon-
don by the raid, which was one of the
greatest, IL not the greatest. ever at
tempted by the Germans over the
metropolis.
The raiders were attacked by artillery
and large number Of British air.
planes, The results were unknown at
noon.
Streets Are Crowded.
The raid occurred at about $50 o'clock
this morning. Thousands of persons
ana ,de charss The police ns% sna
soldiers had difficulty In holding back
the people. Many persons were seen at
windows. Anti-aircraft guns through
out the city and British airplanes I'm.
mediately engaged the hostile craft and
for time the sound of exploding bombs
and the vicious reply Of guns was deaf
ening. Straight over the city new the
squadron Of raiders. pursued by BURST.
ing shrapnel.
The sun was shining brightly. but the
sky was overcast with q haze such as 10
so favorable to raiders. Notwithstanding
the haze, however. the Germans were vis-
ible plainly to the people in the streets.
few persons realized that raid was In
progress until the sound of bombs began
to be heard. The Germans were travelling
at tremendous speed. They appeared to
be at a lower altitude than in the last
raid. when they exacted such a heavy toll
OF life In London
omcial Account Of Raid.
The following official. account Of the raid
Lord French reports that at about 10
o'clock this morning hostile aircraft In
considerable numberA probably N. two
and the east coast Of Essex. Alter drop
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Mons =. ps.s ssx to ss .S Sao
from the northeast Then. changing their
course, they proceeded north and west and
crossed London from the northwest. to the
southeast Bombs were dropped In. war;
Gus places in the metropolitan area
The number of raiding airplanes 10 at
present uncertain. but was PROBABLY
about twenty. They were attacked ~
artillery and by large numbers OF our
own airplanes. but reports a. to the
results of; the engagements and a. to
damage and casualties have not yet
been received"
Reprisals Are Urged.
The German raiders came from the
north and left by way of the south. The
glass in some of the streets of the city
resembles that in the streets OF New
York and its suburbs following the ex-
plosion on Black Tom Island in the up.
per New York harbor last July.
The people In the capital are urging
that quick reprisals be taken.
The West End and fashionable north.
western residential suburbs had a 81.
perb view Of the approach of the visit.
ors, From the further northern fringes
Of the metropolis the raiders swept on.
ward in fairly close formation.
Begins Swift Toboggan. =
The squadron which had been flying
ward, its speed increasing tremendously
under the assistance OF gravity and the
planes soon reaching a level evidently
less than a Thousand yards in their swoop
toward the central objectives.
Meanwhile from all directions antf-afr.
craft batteries were working like machine
guns. Bursting shrapnei dotted the air
around the oncoming raiders with snari-
iISs fiClOuS UidCh puiAb "a oiiiohC INV
numerous than the planes. It seemed
impossible for the raiders completely to
escape from the atmosphere Of curtain
ire surrounding them. The raiders. how
ever. pursued their course, holding their
cargo Of bombs until they had crossed
the suburban district and outlying parks
Latest Raid June IS.
The most recent big air raid on Lon
don occurred June Is. At that time
the German squadron consisted OF
about fifteen machines and the down.
town section of London was their chief
objective. Many bombs fell in the East
End, where buildings were destroyed
and others badly damaged.
The casualties officially announced
were 151 killed and $50 persons injured.
No damage Of a military or naval ma
ture was done. The Germans remained
at a great height and few swiftly. The
British fighters had difhculty In pur-
suit. for the loss of only one German
was recorded.
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