GERMAN AIR RAID ON LONDON

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 75, 21 December 1917, Page 5

GERMAN AIR RAID ON LONDON

LARGE SQUADRON ENGAGED TWO OF THE RAIDERS BROUGHT DOWN By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, December 19. Enemy aeroplanes crossed tie Kent and Essex coasts at 6,15 in. the evening. Some reached the London district and dropped bombs. Thei aeroplanes aiso bombed Kent and Msex. Reports of casualties and dsniage have- not yet been received. Our guns and aeroplanes engaged the rnemy A later report states:—From sixfeen to twenty aeroplanes participated in the raid. Three- groups of raiders , crossed the coast of Kent, and three ofher groups the coast of Essex all making towards London. Our gunfire turned back most of them but live reached London and dropped bombs betwen 7 and 8 o'clock. After the main attack a single raider llow over the city at 9 o'clock. Ono raider was brought down by. gunfire off the coast of Kent, and two oi the crow were captured alive. It ia supposed that another fell in tho Chanuel. Tho casualties and damage in London have not yet been ascertained. Bombs wore also dropped in Kent and Essex.—Aus.s[.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter. STORY OF THE ATTACK "TAKE COVER" SIGNAL QUICKLY OBEYED. , , , „ London, December 19. Tho sudden outbreak of gunfire announced tho air raid to most I ondoncrs just at the timo when most of the shops and business offices woro closing and theatres and music halls opening. A barrago was immediately y.ut up and was marked by three spells of intense cannonading, which swefit the skies with shrapnel. There was a now moon, in a starlight, cloudless right Occasionally two or three searchlights wero put up to assist tho cuniiers' Many heard the Gothas' engines piiunly in the intervals of tho shelling. The Londoners quickly obeyed the "tako cover" orders.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. CASUALTIES AND DAMAGE (Rec. Decombor 20, 7.50 p.m.) London, December 19. Official.—"Tho airraid casualties include ten killed and soventy injured in London, and five injured elsewhere. Tho material damage was not serious. Several fires broko out, but there was no naval or military damage. ,, - Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.-Eeuter. BOMBING RAID ON DUNKIRK (Rec. December 21, 0.20 a.m.) London, December 20. A French official report states:—"The enomy dropped fifty bombs on Dunkirk on the night of December 15. No casualties aro reported. '—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.-Reuter.