The sun., 1918-03-24

The startling announcement that the
Germans had fired on Paris with guns OF
unprecedented range caused a sensation
when it was received in this country
yesterday. The news was contained In
the following despatch. sent out by the
Associated Press yesterday morning:
"The Germans have been firing on
Paris with long range guns
Since s o'clock this morning shells of
Gao millimeters have been reaching the
capital and suburbs at intervals Of
twenty minutes. killing about ten per-
sons and woundlng about fifteen The
shortest distance from Paris to the
front is over 100 kilometers t62 miles.)
Paris had been under Dombardment
FOR about eight hours at the time the
Associated Press despatch was filed at
- in the afternoon.
The news Of the long range lombard
men, was received by ordnance experts
here and In Washington with frank In
credulity They were even more mysti-
fed when a little later the Associated
Press sent out the following despatch:
The first daylight air raid on Paris
also came to-day. which was one OF
perfect sunshine. The people OF far's
refused to immune themselves IN ceilars
and other subterranean shelters, ana
although the subway stations we're
crowded the streets always had grea'
number Of persons in them watching Tor
an aerial battle or some other stirring
.nc'ent.
"\u Clear" signal Delayed.
"As tne day passed and the all clear
signal was not given the feeling grew
tl,tv, In,
raid was expected, and this was not ex-
NAMED until an official statement was
Issued saying that the delay was due 10
the bombardment by long distance cam
non.
The all clear was then sounded. ana
the normal life was resumed. The capie
Office was reopened to take UP accumu-
lated piles OF dispatches.
pieces OF the shells on examination
wero found to bear rif!ing marks, whicn
proved that they had not been dropped,
bu, had been fired from a gun. This ap-
parently left greater mystery than
ever as TO where the gun In question
was located, the nature Of 1t and by
VIA, method II was being operated.
Another thing which turned the
thoughts Of the officials at the municipai
laboratory to the possibility that can
non was being used was the regularity
with which the bombs fell, one every
twenty minutes"
Because OF the closing Of the cable
Offices in paris, the cables last night
we're crowded with messages held up
during the day and little information
was received regarding what actually
had taken place or had been discovered
In reRt on to the supp 1sedly Impossible
homhardment. This congested cond'tion
% TIE cables will be quickly relieved IL
IS expected. and more light will be
thrown unou the mysterious guns ana
their effects
Air Raid Early In Day.
The fo'.owing official announcement
was given out in regard to the air RAID
AT 20 o'clock this morning Few
aIrp.aG's flying at a very high altituoe'
succeeded N crossing the lines ana at
'aca.ng Paris. They were Immediately
pursued By ayiatorS Of the entrencheo
camps Of Paris as well as by those AZ
the front
The dropping OF bombs at several
points has been reported. There arc
several Wet ms. A later announcement
VIII give further reta!!s OF the raid.
Y TIE Germans have dropped shells
n Paris from distance OF sixty-two
n.es or anything Ike 1t they have
h'od4ceI the Incompatible sensation OF
N" war. Bat nobody who knows any
,HNg about ordnance could be found IN
Ne" York yesterday who believed that
lhe th.Hg had been done, The heaviest
herman siege pieces heretofore known
nFe II inch shells with range OF con-
''acrahly less than twenty miles.
The SHELLS f,red into Dunkirk from
Continued on Sirth Pa0s.