The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-08
Fear Additional Six Bodies Are
i'm Ruins of Houses.
German Flyers Reached British
Capital at Midnight.
GUIDED BY NORTHERN LIGHTS
Arctic Phenomenon Lighted
Way for "Baby Killers"
Destruction Confined to Resi-
dence Portion of Great City.

London, March S.-Eleven persons
were, killed and forty-six others were
injured in last nights airplane raid
en- London, according to the latest
police reports. says an official an
nouncement today. 1t is feared that
an additional six bodies are in the
ruins of houses wrecked.
Seven or eight German airplanes
MADE a raid One of them reached
London and dropped bombs in the
northwest and southwest districts of
the city.
The official report reads:
1.-The latest police reports state that
IL were killed and 46 injured in last
nights airplane raid. 1t is feared that
in addition to the above six bodies are
still buried in the wreckage of houses.
All the casualties occurred in Lon
DON"
Rescuer's Home Demolished.
Several persons were killed by the
destruction of private houses in north
eastern London. The house of a vicar
was partially wrecked, but the clergy
man escaped. He is special conSta-
the warning came a few minutes be-
fore the explosion which damaged his
residence. The vicar worked thruout
the night, assisting the wounded and
homeless neighborS.
The greatest damage in London was
inflicted in the northwestern section.
where four bombs demolished several
houses. All the damage and casual
ties in this district were confined to
two parallel streets, altho, usual,
windows were broken for a radius of
several blocks. A single raider ap-
peared over this area. Hundreds of
persons were preparing to desert their
! homes, most of which are threestory
| -, Il, Of
nearby subways when the bombs be-
gan to fall. -. z7..szsssz go y
First Bomb Crashed Thru House.
The first bomb made a square shot
on three-story dwelling of concrete
and brick, crashing thru two floors be-
fore it exploded While the police
special constables and volunteer res
cuers were busy there three more
bombs fell near by. Ambulances ar
rived speedily and Notwithstanding
the confusion, the reScuers worked ef-
fectively under the anti-aircraft bar
rage. For twenty minutes after the
| bombing of this district the barrage
! was continued.
| 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 effectively
than under clear, star-lit sky.
Watchers on the Kent coast said that
+ just DelOFe lney nedrQ the raiders
preaching the whole northern sky be-
came illuminated in bands of red and
white light which shone over the sea
with far more powerful effect than the
full moon. Then as if to accentuate
the brightness by contrast, the skies to
1 the southwark toward France and the
| English channel seemed to grow pitch
dark.
| Fly Against Strong Breeze.
/ Another feature of the raid was the
strong breeze, which most persons be-
1ieved hindered operations of the hos
tile airplanes. Those who watched
/ from high points the spectacle of the
searchlights and the gun flashes won
dered how the enemy could face the
wind and cold.
First ''Moonless'' Raid.
! Another raider dropped bombs in
the northern district of London. de-
| molishing several houses. The fol-
lowing official announcement was
made:
Last nights raid was carried out
I by sever or eight airplanes. One
reached London and dropped bombs
! in the northwest and southwest dis
tricts. Another raider, after drop
ping bombs to the north of London,
proceeded southwark and dropped
bombs in the northern district. Sew
era1 houses were demolished"
! The raid demonstrated that German
aviators no longer depend upon moon
light. 1t was the first time the enemy
had attempted a night raid over Lon
don when there was no moon. The
stars were out. however. and there
was little wind. LondonerS were
taken by surprise when the 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. Fol
a time the gunfire was heavy
Guided by 'Northern Lights
Reports from the coast declare tina
vivid aurora borealis over the NORTH
sea Illuminated the coast and made