Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-03-12
HUN PLANES
DROP BOMBS
ON LON DON
German Aviators XII Eeva
en- and 1njure Forty-sH IN
Raid Over British Met1Dp4
6s; Bodies Buried Be.
meath Wreckage.
GOTHS DON'T WAIT !;
FOR MOONLIGHT

JUL ND DIIN i WAIT
FOR MOONLIGHT
London, March S.-Seven or eight
| German airplanes made a raid over
England last night One of them
reached London and dropped bombs
in the northwest and southwest dis
tricts Of the city.
MANY BOMBS DROPPED
Another raider dropped bombs in
the northern district Of London, de-
mohshing several houses. The fox
lowing ofacial announcement vas
! made:
Last nights air raid appears tai
have been carried out by seven or
eight enemy airplanes Of which two
| reached London. The first two raiderN
approached the Isle of Thanet au
about 10:55 p. m. and proceeded up
the Thames estuary. Both wera
turned back before reaching LONDON.
Meanwhile the third raider came4
across the Essex coast at 1880 p. m
and steered over east London drop,
ping bombs on the southwestern and
northwestern districts. At 1850 D,
m. the fourth raider which had also,
come in across Essex, dropped bombs,
to the north Of London and then pros
ceeded south across the capital. drops
ping its remaining bombs on ;he
northern district. The remaining END
envy machines, all CT which can1ee
ACROSS the Essex coast were turned
back before they reached London
"A certain amount Of damage was
caused to residential property in
London. Several houses have been
demolished"
DON'T NEED MOONLIGHT
The raid demonstrated that German
aviators no longer depend upon moon
light. 1t was the first time the enes
my had attempted a night raid over
London when there was no noon
The stars were out, however, and
there was little wind. Londoners
were taken by surprise when thu
warning signals were sounded. The
theaters were just closing.
The streets were soon cleared,
The warning to avoid danger from
shrapnel was generally needed, every
one taking cover. For timo the gun
fire was heavy.
ELEVEN PERSONS KILLED
Eleven persons were killed and
forty-six were injured in last nights
airplane raid on London, according to
the latest police reports, says an ON
cial announcement. It is feared that
an additional six bodies are in tha
ruins of houses wrecked. The o6hcial
report reads:
1.-THE latest police reports state that
eleven were killed and forty-six in>
jured in last nights airplane raid. IL
is feared that in addition to the above
six bodies are still buried in tbs
wreckage of houses. All the casual.
ties occurred in London"
WEARS HOUSE coMsEp
Several persons were killed by the
destruction OF private houses in
northeastern London. The house Of a
vicar was partially wrecked. but the
clergyman escaped. He is a special
constable and had left home for duty
when the warning came a few minutes
before the explosion which damaged
his residence. The vicar worked
through the night, assisting the
wounded and homeless neighbors,
SINGLE RAIDER DAMAGES MUCH
The greatest damage in London
was inflicted in the northwestern
section where four bombs demolished
several houses. All the damage and
casualties in this disaster were con-
fined to two parallel streets. al.
though as usual windows we're broken
for a radius Of several blocks. A sin.
gle raider appeared over this ara.
Hundreds of persons we're just pre-.
pairing to desert their homes most OF
which are threestory buildings for
the more substantial shelter Of tho
two nearby subways when the bombs
began to fall. The first bomb made
square hit on a three-story dwelling
Of concrete and brick. crashing
through two floors before it exploded.
While the police. special constablos
and volunteer rescuers were busy,
three more bombs fell nearby in
quick succession. Ambulances ar
rived speedily and Notwithstanding the
confusion, the rescuers worked enec-
lively under the anti-aircraft barrase.
For twenty minutes after the bomb
ing OF this district the barrage was
continued.
NORTHERN LIGHTS SEEN
There was a remarkable display OF
the northern lights last night and It
is believed by many that this fur
nished conditions under which the
air raiders could work more eRec.
lively than under 4 clear, starlit sky.
Another feature Of the raid was the
!! strong breeze. which most persons be-
lieved hindered the operations Of the
hostile planes.
MAY FESTIVAL At CORNELL
Mt. Vernon. March S.-Probably one
Of the few musical festivals Of the