Evening star., 1918-01-29
47 PERSONS KILLED.
1853 INJURED WHEN
FOE RAIDS LONDON
German FIiers Make Two At
tacks Upon the British
Metropolis.
IS AER0S IN FLEET;
ONE FALLS 10000 FEET
Battle in Clouds Lasts for Nearly
Five Hours-People Show I'm
usual Goodness During
Sky Fight.
BY the Associated Press.

LONDON, January 29.-About fifteen
German airplanes. of which four or five
reached London, took part in the first
of two raids last night, it is announced
officially. Only one of the raiders en-
gagged in the second attack penetrated
as far as the city.
Forty-seven persons were killed and
169 injured in last nights air raid, it .
announced officially.
All the victims of the raid were
killed or wounded in London. except
for the death of one person and injury
of seven. The material damage was
not serious.
The loss of life in last nights raids
was the heaviest caused by any of the
new series of German aerial attacks
which began early this winter. after a.
period of several weeks in which no
such ventures were attempted. The
casualty list is the largest since the
raid of June 13. when 81 persons were
killed and 437 wounded The last pre-
vious raid was on December is. Ten
persons were killed and 70 wounded.
One of the raiding aircraft was
brought down. falling in flames from
height of 10000 feet. All three of the
crew were burned to death.
All British Pilots Safe.
An. indecisive engagement was
fought by a British pilot with another
raider over the sea. All the British
pilots returned safely. The announces
ment follows:
"The latest information shows that
two groups of raiders crossed the Es-5
sex coast and one group the Kent
coast. practically simultaneously, at
about pm. The two former detacn-
ments proceeded toward London on
parallel courses across Essex. The cap
ital was approached from the east and
northeast shortly after 3 o'clock.
"Of the machines which crossed the
Kent coast two dropped bombs In the
isles Of Thanet and Sheppey. The re-.
rnafnder, crossing the Thames estuary.
also approached East London through
Essex.
Apparently about fifteen machines
four or five reached the capital and
dropped bombs in various districts bee
tween and 10 pm.
Others Crossed Essex Coast.
Some time after the first attack had
terminated other enemy airpianes
crossed the Essex coast. Only one of
these reached London, which it entered
from the north. bombs being dropped
between 1915 and 1890 am.
"A number of machines of the royal
flying corps went up. Two of our
scouts encountered an enemy atrplane
over Essex. After brief fight at
close range the raider took fire and
fell in flames to the ground 10000
feet below. All three members Of its
crew were burned to death.
Several other engagements with ene-
my machines were reported by our
pilots, one of whom pursued a raider
across the coast and fought an inde-
cisive engagement over the sea. All
our pilots returned safely.
Reports of the casualties will be
published when complete lists are re-
ceived."
London had been expecting an enc
my air raid during the past week of
moonlight nights, but nothing had
happened and the residents began to
think they would escape altogether.
when last night the arrival of the un-
welcome visitors was announced.
The anti-aircraft guns were soon in
action and continued firing intermittent-
ly for more than five hours, while the
populace passed an anxious time in
doors or in underground shelters.
Great satisfaction was expressed
when it was announced officially that
one of the raiders had been brought
down in Essex.
Smuts Speaks as Guns Roar.
The attacks lasted intermittently for
nearly five hours and for two hours
were heavy and almost continuous
gunfire.
The members Of the Royal Geograph-
ical Society, with many ladies in the
large audience, were assembled to hear
a speech by Lieut.. Gen. ]. o. SHUTS.
Sir Thomas Holdich, the president, an
that notice had just been re-
ceived of an air raid and that the police
informed him the audience would be
safer If they went to the basement Of
the building. There We're loud cries OF
Carry on" and the audience remained
in the hall.
Gen. Smuts spoke calmly for an hour
amid reports of the guns. Afterward
Walter Hume Long. colonial secretary,
paid a warm tribute to Gen. Smuts and
the African army, which represented
all units of the British empire.
A majority of the theaters went
through with their performances with
decreased audiences, but some were idle
rive on account of the lateness of SUBJ
lr ban trains.
The airplanes followed the familiar
tactics of attacking in relays.
German Report of Raid.
BERLIN. January 90, via London
Bombs were dropped with good effect
IN London and SheerneSS," says a Ger
nan official statement issued today, re-
porting the German air raids last night
IN England.
Germans Drop Fl Tons