The sun., 1918-02-18
AGAIN
RAIDS LONDON
Planes Drop Several Bombs
on Metropolitan Area in
Sunday Attack.
COME IN OVER THAMES
Saturdays Invasion Serves to
Prove Value Of Bar
rage Fire.
COME IN OVER THAMES

LONDON, Feb. 17.-German airplanes
again raided London tonight. Several
bombs were dropped in the London dis
trict
Lord French. commander OF the home
forces. reports that the hostile airplanes
came in over the Thames estuary shortly
after 10 O'Clock tonight and proceeded
t1ward London. Some bombs have bean
dropped In the capital. The raid still
was in progress at q late hour
Only one of the six German airplanes
which made all attack on London last
night succeeded In reaching the capt.
tai. it Is announced Officially. This
raider dropped one bomb in tbs south
west district which caused four casual
ties. An aerial raid on Dover was re-
PEELED by British pliots. who engaged
the Germans over the Kent coast One
large raider is reported to have crashed
into the sea
The ditfiCulty to which the invaders
are subjected In attempting TO reach
London is shown by the report Of ar
incident in the direction Of the Thames
estuary, where a Gotha vainly attempted
- break through the harrage The
er emy machine was caught in circle
W
-he moonlight waned Meantime the
aviator was forced continually TO circle
. and dip and do other hair raising stunts
When hnally he extricated himself
from tho circle OF fire he disappeared
seaward amid parting shower OF
shrapnel.
O@cial Report OF Raid.
The of1cia1 statement follows
About six enemy aiplanes APP
preached the mouth OF the Thames
about Gas O'Clock last night and car
ried out All attack against London.
All were turned back save one ma
chine. which penetrated the capital
along the line of the river aud dropped
4 single bomb in the southwest dis
trict about 10 oC,ock.
This bolnh demolished a house and
buried an invaded Office and mis-
wife aud two chilu,en. Several other
bombs ware dropped by the raider in
the eastern outskirts on It's way in,
but no serious casualties or damages
have been reported.
= An attack which was delivered
against Dover about 1o:45 O'Clock.
was driven on. some bombs being
dropped in open country.
Several OF our pilots engaged the
eEemy. One OF them fought an action
over the Kent coast. and shortly after
ward a large enemy machine WAS seen
from the shore to crash into the sea.
Police reports Of tho casualties and
damage have not yet ueen received,
but apparently they were light
Populace Took 10 Cover.
With the advent OF the new moon la'
nights air raid was not unexpected !
London. Police whistles warned III
people and except for stray omnibuse
and automobiles here and there tn
streets throughout the city almost wer
deserted. Everybody had taken cove
when barra9e in the outer defence
was started. Less sunfire was heard i
tho metropolitan district than on pre-
vious raids, but in the distance 1t wa
quite heavy.
Tha. the Germans are finding it NOR
difflcuit each time they try to reach tn
capital Is indicated by the fact that onl
one raider succeeded last night in pent
trating the defences Of London, and 1t
pointed out that his experience was nc
a pleasant one, as he was forced to dro
most cf his bombs on the way in t
tighten his machine and to dodge tn
anti-aircraft guns and pursuing Britis
airmen.
Compared with other raids. this pc
I.aps was the mildest yet. although TIL
night was ideal for flying. there bein
moonlight and starlight and little win'
As the new moon period IN only star
ing LondOners expect more excitemeI
in the next seven or eight nights. but q
agree that tho most excitement Will /
kept for tho enemy himself, who's
, chances OF killing a few non -comhatan
, and densolishin& a few houses are b.
coming much less than is his own pc
sonal danger.