Republican farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1810-1920, 1918-02-01
MINISTER DIES
HELPING FLOCK
IN AIR ATTACK

London, Jan. 30-A large number
of the persons killed in Monday
nights air raid. according to the Cen
trail News, met their death in a build
ing the basement of which was used
as a shelter. 1t is believed that two
bombs struck the building as the
walls were blown out in large sec
lions and the floors collapsed.
One of the touching incidents was
the death of minister who. when
ever raid warnings were given, had
been in the habit of visiting various
shelters. On Monday night he was
addressing people who had collected
in one shelter when a bomb dropped
on it, killing the minister and a num-
Der of others.
The success of the British airmen
! against the German invaders in
Monday nights raid has caused dis
! cussion in some quarters that heavy
barrage over London during raid
| is rather more harmful than helpful.
| 1t is said that the air board should
| give the airmen clear field in deal
| ing with the raiders, instead of en-
ploying gunfire, which causes dam
age to property and some casualties
through falling shrapnel
The raid appears to have been
checked by the combined activity of
aeroplanes and anti-aircraft guns
which kept the raiders from the heart
| of London.
| Conditions for the raid were as ia
vorable as those of Monday night.
The sky was clear and there was lit
tie wind. Fifteen machines partici-
pated but little damage done.
! The official statement follows:
| "a number of attacks were deliv-
cred against London by hostile aero
planes last night, between 10 p. m.
and 1890 p. M, but in no case did
| the raiders penetrate into the capital.
The first enemy machines crossed the
Isle of Thanet at $50 p. m. and pro-
ceeded up the Thames estuary
toward London, but were all turned
back by gunf1re. AT about the same
! time three or four other raiders
crossed the Essex coast. These also
failed to penetrate the outer defenses
of the capital.
Meanwhile a single aeroplane
which crossed the Essex coast at
"
| and west of London and dropped
some bombs on the southwestern out
| skirts. At the same time another
enemy machine dropped bombs on
the northeastern outskirts, without
causing any casualties or damage.
"Other aeroplanes which crossed
| the Kent and Essex coast between
| 1925 p. m. and 1850 p. m. were all
turned back by gunf1re at various
places on the way to London.
'"The final attack, delivered across
Essex by three or four machines be-
| tween 1870 p. m. and midnight, was
equally unsuccessful. Bombs were
| dropped in various places in Kent
and Essex.
Detailed reports of the casualties
and damage have not been received.
There were a few casualties in the
southwestern outskirts of London.
"About the same number of ma
chimes as on the preceding night ap-
pear to have participated in the raid,
viz: 49,. A number of our aeroplanes
went up. Several engagements with
enemy machines are reported. One
of our pilots attacked a raider over
the northeastern outskirts of London,
with the result that it dropped its
bombs on open ground and made off.
All our pilots returned safely"
London, Jan. 3o-Ger1nan airmen.
as far as could be learned early today,
failed last night to penetrate to the
heart of London. Bombs, however,
were dropped in the suburbs.
The raiders during the last two
nights did not succeed and apparently
did not attempt to bomb any
objective. They merely attempted to
kill civilians and a majority of the
Victims as usual, were women and
children.