The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-03-25
GERMANS FIRE ON PARIS
With LONG RANGE GUNS
Huge Shells Drop Into Capital And
Suburbs, Though Enemy is al
Least 62 Miles Away-AIiSSileS
Kill And Wound.

Paris. March 23.-The Germans
have been firing on Paris with long
range guns. Since , o'clock this
morning shells of 240 milimetres
have been reaching the capital and
suburbs at intervals Of quarter of
an hour. killing about ten person
and woudning about Is. The short
est distance from Paris to the front
is more than 81 miles.
The announcement that Paris vas
being bombarded was made officially
this morning. Measures for counter
attacking the enemy'S cannon are uG
der execution. An air raid alarm
also was given this morning. The
following official announcement was
given out:
AT $50 o'clock this morning
few airplanes flying at very high
altitude succeeded in crossing the
line sand attacking Paris. They We're
Immediately pursued by aviators Of
the entrenched camps of Paris, as
we'll as by those at the front.
The dropping of bombs at sever
al points has been reported. There
are several victims. A later an
nouncement will give further details
of the raid
President Poincare, Premier Glenn
enceau, the Prefect of Police and
other officials, visited the plcaes at
which bombs were dropped while
the raid still was in progress. Going
to a school in the cellars of which
500 pupils were installed, they were
greeted with the 'Marseillaise. The
President and Premier responded
with cheer for France
At 9 O'Clock last night group of
enemy dirplaneS crossed the lines
and certain number of bombs were
dropped on Compeigne and different
towns in that region. Several ma
chimes advanced further to the south
but were forced to turn back by the
fire of French artillery. The alarm
was immediately given in Paris and
half an hour later the ''all clear"
signal was sounded.
Apparently the Germans had inten
ded to raid Paris itself, but French
airmen rose to meet the oncomers
and not one enemy machine succeed
ed in reaching the capital until this
morning.
Think New Weapon is Used.
Washington, d. c., March 23.-
Ordnance officers first were inclined
to believe the Germans were con.
Quoting their long range lombard
ment of Paris from some nearer
point, to which they had broken
through, but on reflection concluded
that, even had the German troops
suddenly rushed forward, it would
have been impossible to bring up and
emplace heavy long range guns in
such a short time.
American officers here recall that.
when the Germans sprung their gun
that would throw shell % miles
into Dunkirk, the French soon found
a way TO meet the attack, partially
at least. A French wireless station,
it is said, is located at point in
the ground not far from the gun en-
placement, and at its position the
conclusion can be recorded when
the shell leaves the gun. 1t takes
something like 60 seconds for the
shell to travel to Dunkirk, but a
wireless signal is recorded in the
city, a warning is sounded and the
inhabitants take to dugouts, gener-
ally reaching shelter before the shell
strikes. American officials say that,
incredible as this may seem, it should
be borne in mind that the long range
guns of the Germans are no less so.
Entente ally ordnance experts said
they could think of no gun which
might be employed at such long
range unless it was a development of
the Kkoda rifle made in Austria. That
is a tremendous enlargement on the
plan of the usual high-power rifle.
These experts, however, have no
knowledge that the Skoda has been
developed to such an enormous
range.