Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-23
RAIDERS ATTACKED
! HEAVILY BEFORE
REACHING LONDON
Drop Number of Bombs Over
Felixstowe and
Harwich.
ELEVEN PERSONS KILLED
AND TWENTY-SIX INJURED
Aerial Visitors Receive Hot Re-
ception From Improved De- -
fenses of Capital.
THEIR FORMATION BROKEN UP
Attempt Lasts Barely Two Hours,
and Thousands Venture Out in
Hopes of Seeing Battle.
ELEVEN PERSONS KILLED
AND TWENTY-SIX INJURED
THEIR FORMATION BROKEN UP
Attempt Lasts Barely Two Hours,
and Thousands Venture Out in
Hopes Of Seeing Battle.
rBy Associated Press !

LONDON, July 22.-Anothcr daylight
raid. carried out over the east coast
Of England this morning. resulted in
the repulse of about twenty German
airplanes, after they had dropped a.
number OF bombs over Felixstowe and
Harwich. killing eleven persons and in-
juring twenty-siX.
An alarm was sounded in London,
but before the Germans could reach
any point near the city they were at
tackled heavily by defending squads.
rons Of aircraft which speedily caused
them to change their minds and beat
hasty retreat. So far as has been re-
ported. none of the Germans was
brought down.
The damage to property is insigni-
ficant.
"A patrol OF the Royal Flying Corps"
ys the official statement, encountered
some hostile machines returning to Bel
gium and brought down one at sea near
the coast" ~ ''-'4' ~ L
correspondent in Essex. of the Ex.
change Telegraph Company. reports
| that he witnessed an aerial battle that
lasted about an hour. A squadron OF
seven German aircraft. travelling in. a
westerly direction, encountered NUM-.
Der Of British planes. which compelled
them to turn northward. They went
in this direction about half mile and
then swerved to the east. Sr
ONE MACHINE CUT OFF M
FROM THE MAIN BODY
One German machine was cut of from
the main body and surrounded by three
British airplanes. which drove it in the
opposite direction until all four were
lost in the haze. The pursuit of the
others continued. all the machines
climbing to a greater height as they
fought. They attained an altitude of
$4,000 to $4,000 feet, and were soon lost
to sight.
The following official account of the
raid was issued: ~
"A squadron of enemy airplanes-
from fifteen to enty-one-approached
Felixstowe and Harwich at 8 O'CLOCK
this morning. Some bombs were
dropped, but the heavy FIRE from the
antiaircraft defense caused the enemys
formation to split up. part returning
overseas and part proceeding south.
down the Essex coast The latter party
was heavily engaged by gunfire all
down the Essex coast. and finally pro-
ceeded homeward without dropping
more bombs. The raiders were pur.
sued out to sea and heavily engaged
by our airplanes. but the visibility was
low and the difficulties OF observation
were very great. @
The casualties at Felixstowe and
Harwich so far are eight killed ana
twenty-five injured"
The morning broke bright and sun
ny. but thick hazo .ioon appeared
About o'clock the enemy machines
were heard. and were seen flying high
and fast toward the coast. They re-
ceived hot rec option from the i'm
proved defenses. in the shape of anti
aircraft gunfre. and were hardly we'll
over the coast before their formatio
was broken up. They dr,pped bombs
hastily before retreatinc.
Observers say that the suunre which
followed the section which went down
the Essex coast reached a pitch Of
unusual intensity. 1t was the move-
ments OF this squad which caused tho
firing for the first time OF new warn
ing signals in London.